FREE
June 24, 2021
JEFFERSON COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 12 | LIFE: PAGE 14 | CALENDAR: PAGE 17 | SPORTS: PAGE 24
VOLUME 17 | ISSUE 1
Shooting in Olde Town
Community members gather on the corner of Ralston Road and Olde Wadsworth Boulevard to watch the procession.
PHOTOS BY RYAN DUNN
Three dead including one APD officer and suspect BY RYAN DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
Arvada police are investigating a shooting in Olde Town Arvada that resulted in the death of Arvada Police Officer Gordon Beesley. The shooting took place near Olde Town Square and the Jefferson County Library — located approximately at the intersection of Olde Wadsworth Boulevard and West 57th Avenue — around 1:30 p.m. on Monday, June 21. Arvada Police Department PIO Dave Snelling confirmed to reporters that three people died. Among them an APD officer, an adult male civilian that was described as “a Good Samaritan” by Snelling and the shooting suspect. “This is an active investigation,” APD Deputy Chief Ed Brady said during a 5:10 p.m. press conference. A veteran officer with the Arvada Police Department was shot and killed. Another person was transported to an area hospital. At this time, we believe this person was shot and killed by the gunman. We are working to identify this individual.” “Our thoughts and prayers go SEE SHOOTING, P6
Arvada Police Department Deputy Chief Ed Brady, center, addresses the media at a press conference June 21, flanked by Arvada Mayor Marc Williams, left, and two law enforcement officials.
DONATIONS FOR OFFICER BEESLEY Arvada Police Officer Gordon Beesley, a 19-year member of the APD and a School Resource Officer at Oberon Middle School, was identified as one of the victims in Tuesday’s shooting. Donations to Beesley’s family can be made to cofallenhero. org.
The Arvada Police Department has asked the community not to set up GoFundMe accounts for Beesley, stating that the Colorado Fallen Hero Foundation is the only official donation site. Beesley’s family has requested privacy at this time, according to APD.
Beesley
COURTESY APD
Alex Reid, the production manager for Rheinlander Bakery located in Olde Town, said he was working in the bakery when he heard what sounded like a firecracker go off, followed by two more. He said it sounded like the shots were coming from the square area at 57th and Old Wadsworth, near the library. Reid said his staff moved quickly at that point, ushering employees and customers to a secluded stock room further in the building, where the group barricaded themselves in. They waited until police arrived, who eventually ushered everyone out the back of the building and to safety. Reid said his employee Caeliegh Cole was at the front of the bakery when it happened, and reacted quickly, even ushering in people from off the street to get them to safety. “Amazing teamwork ensued,” said Reid, “from every one of my employees. Caeliegh Cole was the front of house employee that got people off the street and locked the front door. She was so quick to respond.” Cole said the sight of people fleeing the apparent gunshots prompted her to spring into action. “I was standing near the front and I heard shots,” said Cole. “It took me a second to realize what it was, and I saw people running outside — I saw families and kids. I went up, ran for the door, I called everyone I could inside. “It was a mom and her daughter,” Cole continued, “and they had been customers — the daughter was still holding a cupcake — and there was a father and his three kids, and I helped them all inside and I told them to go in the back past the counters … with all the employees.” Cole said at that point she realized she hadn’t grabbed the key to the front door and retrieved it before trying to close and lock the door as quickly as possible. Rheinlander’s slow door closer prompted SEE BAKERY, P6