Sheriff’s son victim of Denver-area shooting

Douglas County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a disturbance at 5:14 a.m. on Dec. 31 at the Copper Canyon apartments in Highlands Ranch, south of Denver, in what turned out to be a deadly encounter that received national news attention and a message of support to law enforcement officers from President Trump.

Among those deputies was former Niwot resident Jeff Pelle, son of Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle and former Niwot Post Office employee Stephanie Pelle.

The younger Pelle was one of five deputies shot in the altercation that ensued after initial contact, one of whom died of his wounds.

Deputy Zachari Parrish, 29, was the officer who lost his life. Deputies Michael Doyle, Taylor Davis and Thomas O’Donnell also received gunshot wounds.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s department had been called to the same address earlier that morning on a noise complaint, but when they were called back a second time due to a domestic disturbance and given permission to enter the apartment, they were met with gunfire from a shooter who emerged from a back room with a rifle, according to reports.

The shooter, identified as 37-year-old Matthew Riehl of Denver, fired over 100 rounds according to a statement from the Sheriff’s department. Riehl was shot and killed by the SWAT team when they entered the apartment at approximately 7:30 a.m.

Along with the five deputies, two civilians also suffered non-life threatening injuries.

Pelle was reportedly shot in the shoulder and the bullet went into his stomach according to the family. Sheriff Joe Pelle reported that his son was able to walk to the ambulance under his own power after being shot. Jeff’s wife Kendra and his parents were able to see him after surgery.

Joe Pelle wrote, “Jeff is going to recover physically! Thanking God for the quick actions of his fellow deputies, paramedics and surgical team who no doubt saved his life! Jeff has a collapsed lung, punctured diaphragm, broken ribs and a lacerated liver….the injuries were serious, but no longer life threatening! The emotional trauma, given the nature of the incident is a heavy load right now! The good news is that his sense of humor is still intact!”

As of press time, all deputies injured are expected to recover along with the two civilians.

“While the victims of this incident and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office are greatly appreciative of the support received from the community, we would like to request that you avoid using any Go Fund Me donations sites as it is difficult to validate legitimacy,” the department said in a statement. “Any donations can be directed to the Douglas County Fallen Officer Fund at http://www.dcsheriff.net/fallen-officer-fund.”