Copper Canyon Apartment Homes shooting

On December 31, 2017, a shooting occurred in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, where five deputy sheriffs were shot. One deputy, Zackari Parrish, was shot dead, and four others were wounded. Two civilians were also shot by the suspect, who was later killed in an exchange of gun fire with a SWAT tactical team. The suspect reportedly used a rifle and a shotgun. Law enforcement had responded first to a noise complaint to the apartment, then to a domestic-disturbance call to the apartment. The suspect reportedly barricaded himself in his bedroom and shot the deputies in an "ambush" style when they entered. The suspect was later shot dead by a police tactical team that subsequently re-entered the apartment.^[2] It was later determined that the suspect, former attorney^[3] Matthew Riehl, was a veteran with a history of psychotic episodes and he had recently stopped taking his medication.^[4][5][6]

Events[]

On December 31, 2017, deputies from the Douglas County Sheriff's Office led by veteran Sgt. Dave Beyer responded to a domestic disturbance in the apartments around 5:20 AM. They had already been called to the apartment earlier, around 3:00 AM, on a noise complaint, but left after they were unable to determine if an offense had taken place.^[7] On the second call, officers determined that the alleged shooter, Matthew Riehl, was an individual with mental illness who was presenting a danger to himself and others. They decided to take Riehl into custody on an M-1 (mental health hold).^[4][8]

Upon entering the apartment, the officers attempted to gain access to Riehl's bedroom, at which time Riehl began firing rapid rounds through the bedroom door at the officers. Four officers were hit immediately.^[9] Three officers (Deputy Jeff Pelle was shot once in the chest. Deputy Taylor Davis was shot five times in her left forearm, front left thigh and left shoulder. Deputy Mike Doyle was shot twice in the left forearm) were able to retreat, but Deputy Zackari Parrish remained in the apartment, injured. During the ensuing standoff, Riehl continued to fire rounds from his bedroom, causing injuries to two civilians and one SWAT officer (Farook Patail was shot once in the left shoulder. Nathan Lapp was shot once in the left elbow. SWAT officer Thomas O'Donnell was shot once in the right front thigh) in neighboring apartments.^[7] A SWAT team was finally able to enter the apartment around 7:30 AM, and a gunfight ensued, at which time Riehl was shot in the back and killed by SWAT Officer Ronnie Dorrell.^[9]

Officers say Riehl fired almost 400 shots, many of which ended up in neighbors' apartments and adjacent buildings.^[4][5]

Victims[]

Three of the injured, including the injured civilians, were taken to Sky Ridge Medical Center in Lone Tree, Colorado, with injuries that were not critical. Another four were taken to Littleton Adventist Hospital in Littleton.^[9] Deputies confirmed that one officer, 29-year-old Deputy Zackari Parrish, was shot multiple times and died at the scene from his injuries.^[10]

Perpetrator[]

Matthew Edward Riehl (September 9, 1980 – December 31, 2017) grew up in Andover, Massachusetts and attended Colorado University, graduating magna cum laude in 2004. He had joined as an army reserve in 2003^[11] before serving in the Iraq War as a combat medic whilst attending law school at the University of Wyoming, which he graduated from after returning from Iraq. He then went to work for a law firm in Rawlins, Wyoming for three years before leaving to set up his own practice. He joined the United States National Guard in 2006 reaching the rank of Specialist and serving from 2009 to 2010, again as a medic, in Kuwait and Iraq in the 300th Field Artillery Regiment^[11] where he didn't face combat. Riehl was involved in escorting convoys of troops 130 miles (210 km) through the desert at night.^[12]

After being honourably discharged in 2012,^[11] Riehl suffered from mental health issues; in March 2014, his brother phoned the police for a welfare check on Matthew and he later went to hospital for treatment. In April, he was in a United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) mental health ward having experienced a psychotic episode before he escaped and was later found and brought back.^[13][14] On June 9, 2016, Lone Tree Police Department (LTPD) responded to an altercation between Riehl and his father. On June 8, 2017, LTPD again met with Riehl to conduct a welfare check; they talked for 14 minutes and claimed to have seen rifles in his basement, but had no reason to believe he was a danger to himself or others.^[13]

After receiving a speeding ticket on November 10, 2017, Riehl filmed seven YouTube videos where he "ranted" about the incident and likened the officer who issued the ticket to a Nazi. He also sent at least 18 emails to the LTPD and the issuing officer for the ticket to be dismissed. Riehl became the subject of an investigation which concluded that Riehl had not threatened anyone and therefore his actions were not criminal.^[15] On December 12, a 'Hazard Hit' was placed on his address, stating that there needed to be a "Minimum 2 Car Response" from police when attending. The LTPD also concluded that he was suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).^[12]

Reactions[]

President Donald Trump extended his condolences to the victims of the shooting via Twitter: "My deepest condolences to the victims of the terrible shooting in Douglas County @DCSheriff, and their families. We love our police and law enforcement - God Bless them all! #LESM".^[16]

All 11 of the officers involved in the incident were cleared of Riehl's death, and it was officially determined that they acted "completely lawfully in using deadly force against Matthew Riehl."^[17]

Media depiction[]

The incident was chronicled on the tenth episode of the first season of the Investigation Discovery TV show Body Cam, which plays footage from multiple body cameras, including those of Sheriff's deputies and SWAT team officers.^[5]

References[]