FORT COLLINS, CO — A chaotic scene unfolded on the Colorado State University campus Monday evening after an officer-involved shooting left one man hospitalized and prompted a significant law enforcement response near the university’s Microbiology Building.
The incident began at approximately 5:35 p.m. on Oct. 12, when CSU Police received reports of an individual behaving erratically near Newton Plaza on the university’s main campus. According to an official statement released by Tiana Kennedy, associate vice president of communications for CSU and the CSU System, a responding officer encountered a man armed with a handgun.
As the situation escalated, the suspect reportedly advanced toward the officer, leading to an exchange of gunfire. While the university confirmed the suspect was shot, no other injuries were reported among students, faculty, or staff.
Witnesses on the scene provided a harrowing account of the encounter. Daniel Bradford, a CSU student who was biking near the Center Avenue Mall at the time, described seeing an officer confront a man who was shouting loudly.
“I saw the cop walk up to the Microbiology Building,” Bradford said. “There was a dude standing out there who was screaming his lungs out. The cop approached him and told him to put the gun down.”
Bradford stated he heard a total of four to six shots fired. He recalled hearing a single shot, which he attributed to the suspect, followed by the officer returning fire. “The cop hadn’t even pulled out his gun [yet],” Bradford noted. “Then he pulled it out and shot the dude, like five or six times that I can remember.”
Following the shooting, the officer reportedly rendered immediate first aid to the suspect until medical personnel could arrive. The individual was subsequently transported to an area hospital for treatment. The extent of the suspect’s injuries remains unknown.
At 6:02 p.m., the university issued a safety advisory alert, urging students and staff to avoid the area between the Chemistry and Microbiology buildings and to strictly follow instructions from law enforcement. Although an “all-clear” alert was sent out at 6:52 p.m., police remained on the scene throughout the night to process the area.
University officials emphasized that this was an isolated incident and was not an active-shooter situation. The Eighth Judicial District Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) has been activated to manage the investigation. Fort Collins Police Services has taken over as the lead investigating agency.
“This was not an active-shooter incident,” the university’s statement clarified, noting that all further updates regarding the investigation will be disseminated by Fort Collins Police Services.
As of late Monday, the vicinity surrounding the Microbiology Building remained cordoned off with caution tape, signaling that the investigation into the officer-involved shooting will continue well into the coming days.
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