Lakewood Officer Nick Graham Killed in RTD Bus Shooting

Who was the officer killed in the Lakewood bus shooting?

His name was Nick Graham. He was 33.

Lakewood Police Chief Philip Smith identified him Friday afternoon. The shooting happened Thursday night. It took place on a Regional Transportation District bus. The location was the intersection of West Colfax Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard.

Graham joined the department in January 2019. Smith said Graham’s life was taken in an act of violence. It left his family, the department, and the community grieving.

Three other officers were injured. Two have been released from local hospitals. The third remains hospitalized. John Romero, the department’s spokesman, said their injuries ranged from serious to critical. He noted they are all recovering.

A fourth person on the bus was also injured. Romero said the extent of those injuries is still unknown.

The suspect was boarding the RTD bus at about 6:30 p.m. when he opened fire. Officers recognized the man from a description provided by witnesses of a hit-and-run earlier that day. The suspect began firing shortly after officers approached him. He died after police returned fire.

The Lakewood Police Department is not releasing the suspect’s name. They are waiting to notify his family.

Mayor Wendi Strom praised the officers for putting themselves in harm’s way. She asked the community to come together to mourn and care for one another.

Graham came from a police family. His father recently retired. His mother worked in a crime lab.

Smith said Graham distinguished himself through dedication and compassion. In 2023, he became a field training agent. He helped new officers develop skills and judgment.

That same year, Graham received a special investigations unit "wingman award." He helped with gang violence investigations.

He coached less experienced officers. He volunteered when others needed help. He investigated some of the department’s biggest cases. These included homicides, stalking cases, and domestic violence.

On the major crime unit, Graham worked on 323 cases. That was the highest assigned caseload on the team.

The short version: A dedicated officer with a heavy workload died protecting his community. The suspect is dead. The names of the injured officers remain private. The identity of the shooter remains private.

Read that again. The shooter’s name is not public. Not yet.

What is missing from the official statement? The specific details of the hit-and-run connection. How did the witness description match the suspect so quickly? Was there a prior report linking the two incidents?

The department says the officers recognized the man. But recognition takes time. Did they have a photo? A license plate?

Romero said the suspect opened fire when officers approached. But why was he on the bus? Was he running from something? Or just commuting?

The fact that he was boarding the bus suggests he was trying to leave the area. Or perhaps he was just going home.

Make no mistake: This was not a random act of violence. It was a targeted response to a perceived threat.

The community is left to grieve. The family is left to heal. The department is left to move forward.

But the questions remain.

Who was the suspect? Why was he on the bus? How did the officers recognize him? What was the hit-and-run?

These are the questions that need answers.

Until then, the story is incomplete.

The hardest fact is the simplest: Nick Graham is dead.

The rest is context.

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