CO Officer Shot Responding to ALPR Alert on Stolen Car

A Lafayette, CO, police officer was shot in the leg and a suspect killed in an exchange of gunfire at a gas station early Tuesday morning. Officers responded about 1:30 a.m. to the location after a car reported stolen was detected by an automatic license plate reader (ALPR) camera.

When officers arrived they found the stolen Toyota Camry parked at a gas pump and unoccupied. Two people exited the store to return the car but upon seeing officers tried to leave on foot. One of the two, a male, then ran toward the stolen vehicle and fired a handgun at officers.

The officer who was shot returned fire and the suspect was found dead inside the vehicle, police spokesperson Brian Rosipajla tells 9NEWS .

The officer, who has been with the department since May, was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital for treatment and was later released, according to police.

He's been placed on administrative leave, which is standard procedure.