DENVER (AP) - Denver police shot and critically wounded a man after they said he tried to use a woman as a human shield while trying to flee from a convenience store.
Police chief Robert White said the standoff at a 7-Eleven began after police responded to the store on reports of a suspicious person. The man took three hostages, but one managed to escape, authorities said.
White said he didn’t know if the man was armed.
After about half an hour, the suspect agreed to come out, but he used a female hostage as a shield. White said officers told the man to release the woman but he refused.
“There were actually still two hostages still in the store,” White said. “He was leaving the store with one of the hostages as a shield. The officers demanded that he let her go, at which time he attempted to drag her back in the store. Out of fear for her safety, one of the officers fired a shot, striking the individual.”
It’s unclear why police were called to the store. White said he didn’t believe the man knew the hostage.
“I think it’s always unfortunate when someone is injured, but thank goodness, none of the citizens, none of the victims, nor the officers,” White said.
Several nearby public schools were placed on lockdown until the siege ended.
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