Colorado gunman who killed officer was specifically targeting cops in ambush, police say

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The Colorado police officer who was killed Monday along with the suspected gunman and a civilian was identified Tuesday as a 19-year veteran of the force who was "targeted" and "ambushed" because he was wearing a uniform and badge, officials said. 

Gordon Beesley was a school resource officer at Oberon Middle School in the Denver suburb of Arvada but was working patrol while school was out for the summer, the Arvada Police Department said. No other details about him were disclosed. 

In a news conference, police Chief Link Strate said Beesley was targeted because he was a police officer. 

Arvada Police Officer Gordon Beesley, a 19-year veteran of the force, was killed Monday along with a civilian and a suspected gunman, police said.  (Arvada Police Department )

"While we don’t yet have all the facts, I can tell you that Gordon was targeted because he was wearing an Arvada Police uniform and a badge," he said. "Officer Beesley was ambushed by a person who expressed hatred of police officers."

The department also identified a "Good Samaritan" as 40-year-old Golden resident John Hurley. Strate called Hurley a "true hero who likely disrupted what could have been a larger loss of life."

The suspected gunman was identified by the Jefferson County Coroner's Office as Ronald Troyke, according to local reports. No other details were released. 

Beesley was killed Monday during a shooting in the city's Olde Town district. He was responding to a call about a "suspicious incident" near the Arvada Library around 1:15 p.m. Mountain Time, police said. Moments later, authorities received 911 calls that shots were being fired and that an officer had been struck by gunfire. 

Authorities have not disclosed details of the shooting. During the incident, a shelter in place order was issued while authorities searched the area. A second order was issued hours later and lifted Monday evening.  

The Arvada Police Department honored Beesley with a procession hours after he was shot and killed Monday. 

In an interview with Fox News hours after the shooting, Arvada Mayor Marc Williams described Beesley as a "highly respected" officer whose "involvement in the community went far beyond just his police duties."

"You've got an officer with a family who went to work this morning thinking he was going to do his public service and he didn't come home," Williams said. "I'm just so sad for his family and sad for our community that now we're part of the statistic of these horrible losses."

Police officers and onlookers saluted Arvada Police Officer Gordon Beesley Monday during a procession as his body was being transported to the coroner.  

Before Monday, the city had lost two officers while in the line of duty, but never to gun violence, Williams said. 

A shooting in Arvada, Colo., resulted in three deaths, including a police officer. (NewsNation )

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Arvada City Hall was closed Tuesday so rooms and other resources could be made available to the police department, the city said. Also closed for the day was a municipal court, which is expected to reopen Wednesday. Cases expected to be heard Tuesday will be rescheduled. 

A vigil for the victims will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Peace Lutheran Church.