Lakewood Officer Killed in Shootout on City Bus

The gunfire broke out Thursday night aboard a Regional Transportation District bus near the intersection of Colfax Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard, about five miles west of downtown Denver. The gunman also died. Police said officers had responded to a call about a suspicious person who might have been connected to an earlier hit-and-run and was trying to board a bus.

Lakewood police identified the officer who died as Nic Graham. He joined the department in 2019 and was a member of its major crimes team, where he handled 322 cases. Police Chief Philip Smith said Graham received a department award in 2023 for gang intelligence work, investigative support and help with major investigations. One of the three wounded officers remained hospitalized Friday.

A driver who saw the scene said officers surrounded the bus before one boarded, then shots rang out from both sides. He estimated about 20 shots were fired. A regular Route 76 rider said Graham had spoken with him earlier that day. The driver of the bus was physically unharmed, though the union representing RTD workers said the incident had been traumatic for him.

Most people taken to Denver Health Medical Center after the shooting had been discharged by Friday morning. Another injured person remained at a Lakewood hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Police did not identify the wounded officers or passenger.

Police from neighboring agencies helped cover calls as Lakewood officers grieved. The transit workers’ union said RTD was offering counseling to employees who work on the route and that it supports further training for bus operators in responding to dangerous situations.