Crime
Report of person with gun at Germantown High School was not credible
The GHS campus is safe and secure and we will resume all activities at GHS as normal beginning Saturday, October 26th.
UPDATE: At 6:20 p.m. on October 25th, a call was made to the Germantown Police Department via 911. reporting an unidentified individual was seen with a gun at Germantown High School.
Germantown Police Department and the Washington County Sheriff’s office swiftly reported to GHS. Individuals in the building either evacuated or took shelter.
Germantown Police Department and Washington County Sheriff’s swept the entire building to secure employees that took shelter after the 911 call.
The report of an individual with a weapon was not credible and the Police Department and Sheriff’s Office confirmed the building and staff were safe and secure.
An individual was transported by EMT because of a medical condition due to the stress of the situation.
The GHS campus is safe and secure and we will resume all activities at GHS as normal beginning Saturday, October 26th.
ORIGINAL REPORT:
On Friday night, October 25th, Germantown High School was placed on lockdown after reports of a person with a weapon.
Germantown Police Department, in conjunction with the Washington County Sheriff’s Department and other law enforcement agencies, responded to the incident.
Officers, including those equipped with rifles, surrounded the school building.
A drone was also deployed to assist in the search.
While the situation is still under investigation, the school appears to be secure.
No further details have been released at this time.
Crime
Agent Nic Graham Dies After Being Shot in Lakewood Police Shootout With Suspect Gabriel Garcia on RTD Bus
LAKEWOOD, Colorado โ A Lakewood police agent who was critically wounded during a shootout with a suspect aboard an RTD bus has died, authorities confirmed. The fallen officer was identified as Nic Graham, a member of the Lakewood Police Department since 2019.
Graham was among four police agents injured Thursday evening when an armed confrontation erupted near Colfax Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard. A civilian bystander was also struck by gunfire.
The shooting followed a police search for a suspect connected to a hit-and-run crash reported earlier in the day.
Police said the incident initially began shortly before 3:45 p.m. Thursday, following a hit-and-run collision near Kipling Street and West 13th Avenue in Lakewood.
Witnesses told investigators that the suspect ran away almost immediately after the crash. However, they provided officers with a description that helped police identify and search for the individual.
Lakewood Police Public Information Agent John Romero said witnesses were able to give officers a useful description of the person who fled the scene.
Several hours later, at approximately 6:30 p.m., a Lakewood police agent recognized the individual boarding an RTD bus near Colfax Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard.
Officers approached the suspect at approximately 6:32 p.m. Police said the individual opened fire on officers, resulting in an exchange of gunfire.
Responding officers returned fire, striking the suspect. The individual was pronounced dead at the scene and was identified as Gabriel Garcia.
Garcia was reportedly on parole when the shooting occurred.
The circumstances surrounding the confrontation remain part of the ongoing investigation.
Four Lakewood police agents suffered gunshot wounds during the confrontation. Their injuries ranged from serious to critical, and all four were transported to nearby hospitals.
Despite receiving emergency medical treatment, Graham later died from his injuries.
One civilian bystander was also hit by gunfire and hospitalized. The person’s condition had not been publicly disclosed as of Friday afternoon.
Hospital updates released Friday morning indicated that two agents treated at Denver Health Medical Center had been released. Another remained hospitalized, while officials had not provided a complete update on the remaining injured individuals.
Graham began serving with the Lakewood Police Department in 2019 after graduating from the police academy.
Throughout his law enforcement career, he contributed to criminal investigations and earned recognition for his work.
One of his notable achievements came in 2023, when he received the department’s Special Investigations Unit Wingman Award for his contributions to investigations targeting gang members.
Police Chief Philip Smith paid tribute to Graham, highlighting his dedication, compassion and commitment to helping others.
Chief Smith said Graham demonstrated those qualities throughout his career, from his early days on patrol to his investigative work.
His death has left the department and the wider Lakewood community grieving the loss of an officer who dedicated his career to public service.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities examine the circumstances that led to the deadly confrontation.
The shooting resulted in the death of suspect Gabriel Garcia, the fatal injury of Agent Nic Graham, injuries to three additional police agents and a civilian bystander.
Officials have not released a final investigative account of the incident. Further updates are expected as investigators establish the complete sequence of events.