If you or someone close to you has a disability or requires special assistance, please call the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office at 303-271-0211. In an emergency, always dial 911.

Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Fire contained

The fire is now 100 percent contained. Fire crews remain on scene to watch for hotspots.


via BlackBerry

Tuesday, May 4, 2010

Hotline shut down

The hotline that was established Tuesday afternoon for updates on the fire is now shut down (303-271-4930). Barring any major changes in fire activity, the hotline will be disabled for this fire.

Register your phone for e911 alerts

Residents who have VOIP phone service, or no land line, will miss e911 calls unless registered to receive them. Jeffco residents can sign up for e911 phone calls by visiting our Web site here.

Conifer Meadows aka Blackhawk Fire update

Sheriff's Office deputies and firefighters will remain in the area overnight and into Wednesday.

The Sheriff's Office will maintain traffic control points to allow residents access throughout the night. Non-residents will not be allowed in the area.

Evacuated residents will be allowed to return to their homes for the evening at 6 p.m. Many homes in the area are currently without power, and power may not be restored for some time. If you are a resident and are unable to stay in your home without power, and you have no alternative places to stay, you may call the Sheriff's Office non-emergency number to request assistance: 303-277-0211.

Fire officials have dubbed the fire the Blackhawk Fire for official reporting purposes.

Fire Update

The fire is 50 percent contained. It has burned 10-12 acres. No structure damage or injuries. Crews will be on the fire all night.

Hotline for Updates

Residents may call 303-271-4930 for fire updates.

Update

The fire is holding at 5-10 acres.

Crews are protecting the homes in the immediate area of the fire.

Conifer Meadows Fire Update

Firefighters are cutting a fire line on the fire's west flank.

Deputies are going door-to-door among the homes that received the e911 phone calls to ensure that no residents missed the call. They are also looking for those who may be unable to evacuate on their own.

Conifer Meadows Fire update

The fire is holding at 5-10 acres. Crews are stationed at the houses in the immediate area of the fire.

The fire is being fueled by grasses and bushes. About five trees have burned.

The Jefferson County Fairgrounds is available for large animal evacuations.

Conifer Meadows Fire continued

There are currenly more than 30 firefighters on site and more en route. Jeffco Animal Control is also on site to help with animal evacuations.

Students attending West Jefferson Middle School, West Jefferson Elementary School, Elk Creek Elementary School and Conifer High School who live in the fire area are being held at their schools. They will not be dropped off at home by bus as usual.

Conifer Meadows Fire continued

A "reverse 911" call went to about 340 homes this afternoon. The area of the call is about a 1 1/3 mile radius around the fire.

Fire crews are on scene from Platte Canyon Fire, Elk Creek Fire, the US Forest Service and the Jeffco Sheriff's Office fire mitigation team. Firefighters from West Metro Fire Rescue and North Fork Fire are sending crews.

Conifer Meadows Fire

A wildland fire is burning in the Conifer Meadows area of Jefferson County. The fire is currently 5-10 acres in size. No injuries and no structure damage as of this time.

Residents are being allowed into the area to retrieve possessions and evacuate animals. Jefferson County Animal Control is available to assist with animal evacuations.

Wednesday, February 24, 2010

Update: suspect activity

The Sheriff's Office has confirmed that the suspect entered the building before the shootings, signed in, and indicated that he was a prior student.

Sometime after signing in, the suspect left the building. He was not asked to leave.

Correction: student info

Both students shot Tuesday are 8th graders. Previously we said that one is a 7th grader.

Update: suspect information

The suspect, Bruco Strong Eagle Eastwood, has been living with his father in Hudson, Colorado for about five years.

He is unemployed and works for room and board on his father's ranch.

Eastwood has been attending community college on and off, working toward his GED.

The high-powered hunting rifle used in the shooting belongs to Eastwood's father. Live rounds were found in several places on school grounds.

The suspect was cooperative during his interview with investigators.

Investigators will be interviewing school staff members today, with the aid of a map, to determine where they were and what they observed.

Dispatch 911 tapes are not available to media as they are still under review by investigators.

The suspect is not available for media interviews based on his housing status in the Jefferson County Jail.

Suspect name correction: Bruco Strong Eagle Eastwood. "Strong Eagle" is two words.

Update: Suspect attended school

The Sheriff's Office has confirmed that the suspect attended Deer Creek Middle School as an 8th grader in 1992.

Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Update: Suspect identified

The shooting suspect is identified as Bruco Strongeagle Eastwood, date of birth 1-21-78.

Eastwood will have his first court appearance at 10 a.m. Wednesday where he will be advised of the charges against him. He will face at least two counts of attempted first-degree murder, with more charges likely to come.

The Sheriff’s Office is not yet releasing a mug shot.

The suspect was apparently at the school prior to today. He was also briefly inside the school today shortly before the shootings, which took place outside.

The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office will be on-site at Deer Creek Middle School through Wednesday, and possibly longer.

Update: shooter, victims

The shooter, who is in custody at the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, is identified as a 32-year-old male. His name is not yet being released. At this time his association with the school is unknown.

Victims' names are not being released or confirmed by the Sheriff's Office because they are juveniles and victims.

There are no additional injuries to any other people other than the two student victims.

Update: shooter was detained by school staff

The shooting suspect approached students outside the school as classes were being dismissed for the day. He fired two shots on the school's lawn before being tackled by a school staff member. School staff took his weapon from him and restrained him until deputies arrived.

The victims are a 7th grader and an 8th grader at the school.

Update: victims, weapon

Both victims of today's shooting were Deer Creek Middle School students. They were both transported to Littleton Hospital. Medics describe their injuries as non-life-threatening.

The weapon used in the shooting was a high-powered rifle; it has been recovered.

Both students were apparently shot outside the school.

Shooting at Deer Creek Middle School

Victims are confirmed as one juvenile male and one juvenile female. One student was outside the school; one was inside the school.

The suspect is in custody; he was not injured.

Students are currently being released from the building in groups as deputies check and clear parts of the building.

Shooting at Deer Creek Middle School

On February 23, 2010 at about 3:15 p.m. a call came in to the Sheriff's Office regarding a shooting at Deer Creek Middle School, 9201 W. Columbine Dr..

Two victims were wounded and have been transported to the hospital.

An adult man is in custody.

The school is in lockdown mode; children and teachers are still in the school. Deputies are also inside the school.

Students will be evacuated to Stony Creek School at Geddes and Everett.