A Sterling police officer shot a man on Tuesday night who brandished a gun at the officer, police said.
The incident happened just after 7 p.m. and the man who was shot was taken to Sterling Regional Medical Center and later flown to a Denver area hospital, police said in a news release.
Police on Wednesday identified the man who was shot as Douglas Sanchez, 54, of Sterling. The release did not give an update on his condition or further details on his injures.
Sanchez was wanted by local authorities as a suspect in a Sept. 30 shooting, the release said. In that case he faces multiple felony charges — attempted first-degree murder, menacing, and possession of a weapon by a previous offender.
At 7:04 p.m. Tuesday officers were notified that Sanchez was at the Eagle Convenience store, 930 W. Main St., police said. Sanchez left the store in a vehicle, in which he was a passenger, and the driver was stopped by police in the 400 block of South 6th Avenue.
Sanchez bolted from the stopped vehicle, running west in an alley, police said.
An officer followed and Sanchez “stopped, turned and confronted the officer,” according to the release. “Sanchez brandished a weapon and was shot.”
The officer, who was not identified, has been placed on administrative leave, per department policy, pending an investigation by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation. Police and the Logan County Sheriff’s Office will assist the CBI.
Sanchez will face additional criminal charges in connection to the Tuesday night incident, police said.
