CO - Dep. Zackari Parrish, 29, dead, 6 hurt in Highlands Ranch shooting, 31 Dec 2017

[Jennifer17]

Gunman in deadly Colorado deputy shooting identified as Iraq War vet with grudge against sheriff

Riehl, who was killed, was an Army veteran who served briefly in Iraq, Fox 31 Denver reported.

He is seen wearing an Iraq combat veteran hat in a Dec. 13 YouTube video in which he called Spurlock a “clown” and a deputy a pimp.

“You know who’s going flub big time next election, Spurlock,” Riehl said in the video called “Fire Sheriff Spurlock.”

He said he was running against Spurlock as a libertarian.

A video posted on Nov. 28 showed a traffic stop by a police officer in the city of Lone Tree — apparently taken inside the officer's car — that Riehl said was done illegally. He claimed the officer clocked the wrong driver, identifying the officer by name in the video and calling him "dirty."

"S---bag, dirtbag, liar," he says as the officer questioned the driver. "He's the boss, huh? He's the Nazi in charge with the stripes on his shoulder and the fake badge."

An injustice collector.

 

[margarita25]

"6:48 p.m.: Statement from Castle Rock Police Chief Jack Cauley:

“The Castle Rock Police Department is deeply saddened regarding the loss of Deputy Zackari Parrish. Deputy Parrish was formerly with the Castle Rock Police Department for 2 years and 5 months prior to joining the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.

Zackari served the Town of Castle Rock with honor and dignity. He truly loved being a police officer and embodied everything it is to be one. He was an excellent officer, a good friend and a committed husband and father. Our thoughts and prayers are with the Parrish family. We ask that you keep them in your thoughts and prayers as well as the officers and civilians recovering from their injuries.”"

http://kdvr.com/2017/12/31/douglas-county-sheriff-responds-to-officer-down-call/

 

[margarita25]

"4:30 p.m: From the Douglas County Sheriff's Office:

Douglas County Dispatch initially received the report of a “verbal disturbance” call at the location at approximately 3:00 a.m. involving two males. Both males were at the apartment, one male said the suspect was acting bizarre and might be having a mental breakdown. Deputies cleared the scene at 3:44 a.m., no crime had been committed at that time. Deputies were called back to the scene at 5:14 a.m. and the first officer arrived on scene at 5:17a.m. Three additional officers also arrived on scene, the last one arriving at 5:35am. One male had left the scene prior to officer’s arrival. The male returned to the scene and gave officers a key and permission to enter the apartment, but then left the scene prior to the shooting. At 5:56 a.m., four officers were hit by rifle rounds from the suspect’s bedroom. Three of the deputies were able to get to safety, however, the fourth officer, Deputy Parrish, was not able to retreat. Due to the amount of gunfire along with sustained injuries, the three injured deputies were not able to get to Parrish for an immediate rescue.

SWAT made entry into the apartment at approximately 7:30a.m., shots were exchanged between the suspect and SWAT, resulting in the suspect’s death. Officer Tom O’Donnell was also shot and injured by the suspect at this time. It is believed, at this time, that the suspect shot more than 100 rounds from a rifle."

Live Blog: 1 deputy dead, 4 deputies and 2 civilians wounded in Douglas County apartment complex shooting
http://kdvr.com/2017/12/31/douglas-county-sheriff-responds-to-officer-down-call/

 

[margarita25]

"DOUGLAS COUNTY, Colo. — The man police say gunned down Douglas County Deputy Zackari Parrish was an Army veteran, serving in Iraq in 2009.

A spokesperson with the National Guard confirmed to Denver7 that Matthew Riehl, 37, entered into the United States Army Reserves in 2003 and served in the Wyoming National Guard starting in 2006. The spokesperson said Riehl was deployed to Iraq in 2009 and was honorably discharged in 2012."

Douglas County shooting suspect was Iraq War veteran
https://www.thedenverchannel.com/ne...on-youtube-clip-ranting-about-sheriffs-office

 

[Deleted member 158085]

So what was the two civilians relationship to the suspect?

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

 

[MIKAYOYO]

It baffles me that when LEO get killed in the line of duty some people say “they knew what they were getting into when they became an officer”. But when a civilian is shot by an LEO it’s automatically unwarranted and the LEO is to blame no matter what. It seems like being an LEO thankless job in our current social climate. These poor LEOs responded to a freakin DV call and one was killed and others wounded. Where’s the compassion? Because I see far much more compassion when a civilian is shot than when a LEO, who puts his or her life in the line every. Single. Day. Is killed in the line of duty, protecting civilians. I hope the people who are soooo quick to criticize DECEASED LEO who were killed in the line of duty, never need their assistance. SMDH


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Still catching up, but wanted to say thank you so much for this. My daughter recently got engaged to a cop and I worry so much for him. For her. For my future grandchildren.

 

[Elley Mae]

Authorities had been to Riehl's home earlier in response to a complaint of a "verbal disturbance" involving two men, the sheriff's office said. One of the men told them the suspect "was acting bizarre and might be having a mental breakdown" but the deputies found no evidence of a crime.

When deputies were called back, a man who had left came by to give them a key and granted permission to enter the home, leaving again before shots were fired.

"The suspect was just making a ton of noise and annoying everyone around him," Spurlock said.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2017/12/3...ng-officer-down-situation-outside-denver.html

Riehl attended the University of Wyoming, making the Dean’s List in 2008, before graduating in 2010. Afterwards, he became a practicing attorney in Rawlins. We’ve also learned he was an Honorably Discharged Army Reservist.

http://www.kgwn.tv/content/news/Wyoming-man-named-as-Denver-shooting-suspect-467453643.html

 

[Elley Mae]

Riehl voluntarily withdrew his membership in the Wyoming State Bar in October 2016, said Sharon Wilkinson, a spokewoman for the group.

“That was an indication that he was no longer interested in practicing law in Wyoming. Therefore, he is not licensed to practice in Wyoming,” she said.

https://www.denverpost.com/2017/12/31/matthew-riehl-douglas-county-deputy-killed/

 

[Elley Mae]

So what was the two civilians relationship to the suspect?

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Just a guess, probably in apartment next to suspect apartment.

 

[CARIIS]

He was definitely disjointed -- there is a video of him ranting about the sheriff

 

[CARIIS]

Deputy killed, 6 injured after shots fired in Denver suburb
http://www.cnn.com/2017/12/31/us/colorado-shots-fired/index.html

"Spurlock said the suspect, who was not identified, had barricaded himself in a bedroom and had been talking with officers before he suddenly opened fire with a rifle, hitting four deputies in the apartment.

"There were well over 100 rounds fired ... from the suspect," Spurlock said."

There using the term rifle - would it have to be an assault rifle to shoot that many? A rifle conjure up a different image than an assault weapon ?

 

[CARIIS]

The comment about it being Colorado and people having guns....it's likely because a lot of people in this part of the country have hunting weapons so when they go on calls, they assume it is likely someone could have a weapon.

Though in this case...it sounds much different. At the PC they even refer to it as an ambush type thing. And they were familiar with him. They say he has had encounters with law enforcement but doesn't have criminal history. Hmm....

Probably mental health related contacts. Back in my day cops really would prefer not to deal with the mentally ill.

I think with more training it might be somewhat better these days - but this clearly indicates that LE might need some additional training in this arena.

He might have been hospitalized several times which usually involves cops as far as transport goes

Back then the way cops treated the mentally ill was an abomination, cruel - a lot of laughing at them -- taunting them/

A lot of the time they did not want to be bothered with paperwork so would just leave

Our society IMO is not as enlightened regarding mental illness as some other countries

just from experience .

 

[CARIIS]

I was just going to ask: Arent you Americans getting tired of this? I heard the police chief just say this guy was known to police. Then why does he have guns? Also, he said, "Yes, we knew he was armed. This is Colorado and people have guns, so when we respond to a call we know there will be guns." Not the case in other civilized countries. The daily death toll due to gun violence in the USA IS preventable. I feel so sorry for your police who have to face an armed population with rapid-fire weapons.

terrific post -- many of us are tired of this -- but basically powerless........nothing is being done to educate the public

We really need PSA's like the old days ( like drugs selt belts etc) educating on mental illness imo

 

[CARIIS]

I wonder why more has not been explained about the civilians -- something like friendly fire?? Just speculating but details about them are few at this point

Where were they in a unit nearby or outside?

 

[CARIIS]

a short clip of some dispatch recordings

http://6abc.com/5-deputies-shot-1-fatally-in-shooting-near-denver/2844288/

another here

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news...wn-after-being-called-scene-denver/993297001/

helps give a picture of what they were facing

 

[CARIIS]

Much remains unclear about Mr. Riehl’s life and his actions leading up to the shooting, but he did have an interest in guns. In June, he took an introductory course in carbine rifles run by a Colorado company called Kenaz Tactical Group, according to Robert Butler, the company’s owner and lead instructor.

course that Mr. Riehl took is geared toward self-defense, Mr. Butler said. It covered the basics of rifle safety and taught students how to shoot and how to align their aim. Students were required to provide their own firearms.

Deputies left at 3:44 a.m., as no crime had occurred.

The officers were talking to Mr. Riehl for about 30 minutes and at some point he barricaded himself in a bedroom.

The three wounded deputies could not immediately rescue him because of the amount of gunfire and their injuries

Officers with a SWAT team entered the apartment at about 7:30 a.m.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/31/us/colorado-deputies-shooting.html

 

[Cryptic]

There using the term rifle - would it have to be an assault rifle to shoot that many? A rifle conjure up a different image than an assault weapon ?

My guess is that you are right and the weapon used was probably was an AR-15 clone.

Technically, since civilian versions cannot fire automatically, they are 'rifles' not 'assault weapons'. At the same time, such rifles are commonly referred to as 'assault rifles'. In either case, they have large magazines, and the ability to be fired very quickly as they have little recoil

 

[margarita25]

Candlelight vigil to be held for fallen Douglas County sheriff’s deputy
http://kdvr.com/2018/01/01/candlelight-vigil-to-be-held-for-fallen-douglas-county-sheriffs-deputy/

"Parrish and his family attended Mission Hills Community Church in Littleton, where a candlelight vigil will be held at 5 p.m. Monday.

Pastor Craig Smith said anyone who has memories of Parrish can attend the service at the church at 620 Southpark Drive.

"Pretty clear the first time you meet Zack, he's a guy that has a passion of life," Smith said. "He's incredibly zealous. There's a spark that came out immediately.

"I've heard from so many different people that he just loved his community and being a police officer.

"Zack didn't see law enforcement as a job. He saw it as a calling, as a way to serve his community and a blessing. And I think he approached it in that perspective.

"Even listening to his wife go back and forth between moments of heartbreak and grief, and then she'd cycle around to 'I'm so proud of him.'""

 

[margarita25]

Timeline of fatal Douglas County police ambush; investigation will take days
https://www.thedenverchannel.com/ne...ty-police-ambush-investigation-will-take-days

"The Investigation

Sheriff Spurlock said the investigation would take some time to complete because of all of the evidence that needs to be gathered.

“There were well over 100 rounds fired in this engagement. The 100 rounds were from the suspect,” Spurlock said.

Part of the investigation will include determining the number of weapons the suspect used and whether they legally belonged to him.

“We do know that it was a rifle—and other than that I can’t tell you,” Spurlock said."

 

[margarita25]

"Officials didn’t go into many details about the suspect because they were waiting for the coroner’s office to positively identify the body. However, Spurlock believes the man was known by police.

“If it’s who we believe it is—we know that he’s had law enforcement contact on a number of occasions,” Spurlock said. “I was told just moments ago that there was no criminal history [but] he has had encounters with law enforcement throughout the metro area.”

The investigation will likely also include interviews with the officers and any witnesses as well as the man who reported to police that he believed the suspect was suffering from a mental breakdown.

“We will hopefully get some body-cam footage. That will help me answer some of those questions,” Spurlock said.

Investigators might also look into a video the suspect posted on YouTube just two weeks before the deadly confrontation where he ranted against the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and promised to run as a Libertarian candidate against Sheriff Spurlock.""

https://www.thedenverchannel.com/ne...ty-police-ambush-investigation-will-take-days