Colorado Police Sergeant Shot and Killed During Traffic Stop

Sgt. Michael Moran conducted a traffic stop based on a reckless driving complaint around 11:30 a.m. The driver of the vehicle shot Moran, who died at a local hospital.

November 30, 2023

Sgt. Michael Moran of the Cortez (Colorado) Police Department was shot and killed during a traffic stop Wednesday morning.Sgt. Michael Moran of the Cortez (Colorado) Police Department was shot and killed during a traffic stop Wednesday morning.Cortez PD

A Cortez, Colorado, police sergeant was shot and killed during a traffic stop Wednesday afternoon. The suspect was later killed in a shootout with law enforcement.

Sgt. Michael Moran conducted a traffic stop based on a reckless driving complaint around 11:30 a.m. The driver of the vehicle shot Moran, who died at a local hospital, the Journal reports.

Deputies from the Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office and officers from the Cortez Police Department located the suspect a short time later less than 1½ miles from the site of the traffic stop where Moran was shot.

“The suspect engaged officers, officers fired back and eliminated the suspect at that time,” Cortez Police Knuckles said.

Sheriff Steve Nowlin said the suspect was located and killed “within a matter of minutes” of the traffic stop.

The suspect has not been identified by law enforcement.

Moran joined the Cortez Police Department in 2012. He is survived by two daughters.

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