Officer dies after an officer-involved shooting in southwest Colorado town
CORTEZ, Colo. (KRDO) - An officer with the Cortez Police Department (CPD) has died after being shot during a traffic stop Wednesday.
The fallen officer has been identified by Cortez Police as Sergeant Michael Moran.
CPD said Sergeant Moran initiated a traffic stop on South Broadway. Shots were fired at the officer who was subsequently injured. The suspects fled in their vehicle and were quickly located in the 7500 block of Hwy 160-491.
According to CPD, additional shots were exchanged between the suspects and officers at the second location. One suspect died on the scene and a second was taken into custody.
Sergeant Moran was taken to a hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.
Flags in the area have been lowered to half-staff in support of Sergeant Moran and the Cortez Police Department.
CPD said Michael Moran was a Marine for nine years and served two tours in Iraq prior to joining the police department in 2012. He leaves behind two daughters, many friends, and family, the CPD said.
If anyone has further information about this pending investigation, they are asked to contact the Cortez Police Department and the Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch at 970-565-8441.
