Two separate shooting incidents on Monday in Northern Colorado

There were 2 separate shooting incidents on Monday, October 12, in Northern Colorado. In the first, an Adams County sheriff’s deputy shot a man near Interstate 76 and 96th Avenue early Monday morning.

The man was taken to a hospital. His identity and the extent of his injuries have not been released. The deputy was not hurt.

Deputies were initially called to the Super 8 motel along the I-76 frontage road for a suspected arson. The fire was contained to one room, and the motel’s sprinkler system helped limit the damage.

Around 6:51 a.m., deputies located a man about a mile north of the motel who matched the suspect’s description. A deputy then shot the man during an encounter.

Investigators found a knife at the scene, but it’s not yet clear whether the man was armed or whether he was the person suspected of setting the fire.

Several roads in the area were closed during the investigation, and drivers were asked to avoid the area.

The deputy has been placed on paid administrative leave, and the shooting is being investigated by the 17th Judicial Critical Incident Team.

The sheriff’s office says the shooting was unrelated to a separate incident in Thornton Sunday night in which a police officer was wounded in a shootout.

The 2nd incident on Monday took place in the evening as Colorado State University police shot and injured an armed man on the Fort Collins campus Monday evening after officials said he advanced toward an officer.

University police responded to a report of a man acting erratically near Newton Plaza around 5:35 p.m. Officials said the officer encountered the man holding a handgun before gunfire erupted. The officer then shot the man and immediately provided first aid.

The man was taken to a hospital. No other injuries were reported, and university officials emphasized that this was not an active shooter incident.

A student who witnessed the shooting told the Rocky Mountain Collegian newspaper that he believed the man fired first. The student said he heard a single gunshot before the officer drew his weapon and fired several times. Investigators have not confirmed that account.

Campus officials issued a warning around 6 p.m., asking people to avoid the area between the Chemistry and Microbiology buildings. An all-clear was issued about 50 minutes later, although police activity continued.

Fort Collins Police Services is leading the investigation, with assistance from the Eighth Judicial District Critical Incident Response Team.