DENVER – A Colorado state trooper “won today” after he was wounded by a gunman in a “targeted” attack while parked on the side of a highway on Saturday. Despite suffering injuries, the trooper managed to return fire, fatally shooting his attacker, law enforcement authorities said.
Cpl. Tye Simcox was sitting stationary in his patrol unit in the median of Highway 36 in the Denver suburb of Westminster when he encountered “evil.” In an unexplained and unprovoked attack, the gunman slowly drove by Simcox’s marked police vehicle and opened fire on the 16-year law enforcement veteran, CBS News reported.
The suspect stopped and got out of his Chevy pickup on the left side of the highway and continued shooting at the trooper with a handgun, chief of the state patrol, Matthew Packard, said during a press conference.
“Our trooper exited his patrol car and immediately began to return fire … and was able to strike and ultimately kill the suspect that was attacking him,” Packard said, noting Simcox used his rifle during the shootout.
Simcox was struck in the lower right arm and applied a tourniquet to the gunshot wound prior to being transported to the hospital. After receiving further medical treatment, he was released later on Saturday.
“Our member was targeted today by a man that intended to kill him and that is shocking and unacceptable,” Packard said.
“But our Colorado state trooper responded appropriately and swiftly and courageously and he won today. And by winning, not only did he save his own life, but he saved the rest of this community from someone that clearly intended to do evil.”
The identity of the suspect was not yet released by authorities, the New York Post reported.
Packard continued to praise Simcox while speaking to members of the media.
“He looked at the face of evil and responded appropriately and won,” the chief emphasized.
