Colo. Police Officer Wounded in Shootout; Suspect Remains at Large

A Thornton police officer is expected to recover after being shot during an exchange of gunfire with a suspect who fled the scene near the Adams County Fairgrounds.

By Shelly Bradbury

Source The Denver Post

Oct. 13, 2026

2 min read

Add Us On Google

What to Know

A Luis Arebalo, 37, allegedly opened fire on Thornton police officers during a call about an unwanted person in a residential neighborhood Sunday night.
One officer was shot and wounded but is expected to recover; another officer returned fire before the suspect fled the scene.
Authorities launched a large search, temporarily ordered nearby residents to shelter in place and were still seeking Arebalo.

Thornton police say Luis Arebalo opened fire on officers responding to a report of an unwanted person in a residential neighborhood near the Adams County Fairgrounds.

A Thornton police officer was wounded in a shootout in a residential neighborhood Sunday night, and the suspect remained on the loose Monday, according to the police department.

Officers responded to a report of an “unwanted person” in the 12800 block of Ulster Street near the Adams County Fairgrounds around 9:30 p.m. Sunday, according to a police news release. Luis Arebalo, 37, fired multiple shots at the officers as they spoke with the person who called for help, police alleged.

One officer was shot and is expected to survive, according to the police department. Another officer shot at Arebalo, but it is unclear whether the officer’s gunfire struck the man. Arebalo fled and had not been apprehended by early Monday morning.

Police asked that anyone who sees the man call 911. Officers asked residents in the neighborhood to shelter-in-place immediately after the shooting and searched the area for several hours before lifting that restriction.

Arebalo’s Colorado criminal history shows he previously pleaded guilty to reckless driving in connection with a November 2024 incident. The details of that incident were not immediately available Monday.

Thornton police did not immediately return a request for more information.

________________

Visit at denverpost.com.

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.