Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly (middle) gave a press conference following the Feb. 8 shooting at Main Event in Colorado. Douglas County Sheriff's Office/Facebook
Colorado Family Center Shooting Ends with Police Killing Armed Man, Arresting Woman
A terrifying shooting at a popular family entertainment center in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, late Saturday night left two people hospitalized and ended with police fatally shooting an armed man. A woman, believed to be responsible for part of the violence, is now in custody, authorities confirmed.
The incident unfolded at Main Event, a fun center known for arcade games, bowling, and food, around 11:51 p.m. local time. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) responded quickly to reports of an active shooter at the packed venue. According to Sheriff Darren Weekly, a deputy arrived in less than a minute, encountering an armed man in the parking lot.
Gunman Shot After Ignoring Police Commands
Deputies ordered the man to drop his weapon multiple times, but he refused. Instead, he turned toward the officer, prompting the deputy to fire his weapon, striking the suspect. Police immediately attempted life-saving measures, but the man was pronounced dead shortly after.
Authorities have not yet released his identity, and it remains unclear whether he was directly involved in the earlier shooting inside the establishment. Sheriff Weekly noted that investigators believe there was some connection, but the details are still under review.
Shooting Inside Leaves Two Hospitalized
Inside Main Event, deputies discovered a woman who had been shot in the chest and also suffered a foot injury. She was quickly transported to the hospital. Another individual was also hospitalized due to a non-life-threatening medical issue.
Read Also: British Couple Found Murdered in Their French Countryside Home—Community in Shock
After investigating, police determined that the woman who fired the shots inside was the primary suspect. She was taken into custody, though her name has not yet been released.
Packed Venue, Chaos, and a Fast Police Response
The entertainment center was full of customers at the time, creating a chaotic and dangerous situation. Sheriff Weekly emphasized how fortunate it was that the situation did not escalate further, crediting the quick response of law enforcement.
“There were a lot of patrons still here when the shots rang out,” Weekly said in a press conference. “This was a very dangerous situation, but it could have been much worse. Fortunately, we had a deputy nearby who was able to respond immediately.”
Authorities are still piecing together what led to the violence and how the armed man was connected to the shooter inside. Further updates are expected as the investigation continues.
Ongoing Investigation
At this time, police have not released details on potential motives or relationships between those involved. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is working to gather more information and urges anyone with details about the incident to come forward.
More updates will be provided as new information becomes available.
