$1.00
June 24, 2021
JEFFERSON COUNTY, COLORADO
A publication of
JeffcoTranscript.com
VOLUME 37 | ISSUE 48
Shooting in Olde Town
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
Community members gather on the corner of Ralston Road and Olde Wadsworth Boulevard to watch the procession.
person was shot and killed by the gunman. We are working to identify this individual.” “Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victim’s families and friends,” Brady continued. “One suspect has been shot and killed, and his identity will be released by the coroner’s officer... We are not searching for anyone else.” Brady also confirmed that there
PHOTO BY RYAN DUNN
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.
SEE SHOOTING, P30
Beesley
COURTESY OF APD
Pitching in to keep Jeffco’s summer learners fed The Action Center, one of many community partner organizations getting it done for students BY BOB WOOLEY BWOOLEY@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM
The countywide effort to feed hungry children and families across
Jefferson County is a collaborative effort. That’s the message from Carolyn Alexander, the senior director of operations for The Action Center,
INSIDE: VOICES: PAGE 14 | LIFE: PAGE 16 | CALENDAR: PAGE 19 | SPORTS: PAGE 24
which is based in Lakewood but serves the needy countywide. “There are 15 sites doing enhanced summer learning and we have over 10 agencies that are participating and getting free groceries out to those 15 (school) sites,” Alexander said while overseeing a morning food distribution. She talks about the program as
she moves through the parking lot of the Lakewood church where food is being boxed and separated. The food will soon be picked up from this site and driven to participating schools. “Food Bank of the Rockies has a free food program that they’ve been SEE FED, P5
LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION AT LAST Movie theaters adapting and reopening P16