By Tyler Silvy Greeley Tribune, Colo.
GREELEY, Colo. — The deputy wounded Wednesday night during a shootout with a suspect on NW C Street in Greeley is Brandon Stupka, a 10-year veteran of the Weld County Sheriff’s Office assigned to the patrol division.
Stupka underwent more than two hours of surgery at North Colorado Medical Center following the shooting for wounds to his thigh and abdomen, Weld County Sheriff Steve Reams said Thursday morning. Stupka is in stable condition at the hospital, but has additional surgeries scheduled for today.
The additional surgeries are “less significant” than what Stupka endured last night, Reams said.
“My deputy is going to be OK, and that’s what’s most important,” Reams said.
In addition to serving as a Weld County deputy for the last decade, Stupka also is a U.S. Army and U.S. Navy veteran, according to his LinkedIn profile.
The shooting occurred at 9:21 p.m. Wednesday when five deputies responded to a report of a domestic disturbance in the 2200 block of NW C Street, Reams said. The deputies encountered gunfire as they approached the house.
Stupka was hit twice and immediately took cover, Reams said. The four other deputies returned fire, wounding the suspect.
Stupka was taken to NCMC by the on-duty sergeant. The suspect, who is not yet being identified pending an investigation by the Weld County Critical Incident Response Team, also was taken to NCMC, Reams said.
The suspect also underwent several hours of surgery last night. The wounds he sustained do not appear to be life threatening, Reams said.
The four deputies who fired their weapons last night have been placed on paid administrative leave in accordance with sheriff’s office policy following an officer-involved shooting, Reams said. They are not being identified pending the ongoing investigation.
Reams said the reason he is not releasing the names of the other deputies at this point is because it is not yet clear how many rounds were fired and which deputy or deputies wounded the suspect.
Anyone with information is asked to call Sgt. Tom Walde at (970) 350-9604.
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©2018 the Greeley Tribune (Greeley, Colo.)
