A bystander was also injured and the gunman was killed after officers confronted him aboard an RTD bus Thursday evening.
LAKEWOOD, CO — Lakewood police Agent Nicholas Allen Graham was killed and three other agents were wounded Thursday evening when a man opened fire as officers confronted him aboard a Regional Transportation District bus, authorities said. Police returned fire, killing the gunman, and a bystander was also injured.
The shooting happened about 6:30 p.m. Nov. 5 near West Colfax Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard, several hours after police began looking for a person suspected in an earlier hit-and-run. Graham, 33, died from his injuries after being taken to a hospital. The three surviving agents were recovering Friday, with two released from the hospital and a third still receiving treatment. Authorities had not released the names of the wounded agents or the injured bystander.
The sequence began just before 3:45 p.m. when Lakewood police responded to a hit-and-run near Kipling Street and West 13th Avenue. Witnesses told officers the driver had fled the scene and gave police a description, according to the department. About three hours later, an agent spotted someone matching that description near West Colfax Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard, a major intersection west of Denver.
The man was near a contracted RTD Route 76 bus when officers approached. RTD said four passengers were aboard the bus at the time. Police said the suspect entered the bus and agents followed him. Within seconds, authorities said, the man opened fire on the officers. The agents returned fire, and the gunman was pronounced dead at the scene. Police initially described the four agents’ wounds as ranging from serious to critical.
Authorities had not officially released the gunman’s identity as of Friday, though several Denver-area news organizations reported a name based on unnamed or informed sources. Police also had not publicly explained the circumstances of the bystander’s injury. Investigators were continuing to reconstruct the exchange of gunfire and the events leading from the earlier hit-and-run to the confrontation on the bus.
Graham joined the Lakewood Police Department in January 2019 and began his career in patrol before moving into investigative work, Police Chief Philip Smith said. He became a field training agent in 2023 and later served on the department’s major crimes team, which handles cases including homicides, domestic violence and stalking. Police said he carried a large investigative caseload and had received recognition for his work.
Smith described Graham as an agent known for helping colleagues and training less experienced officers. His death prompted mourning across Lakewood and among law enforcement agencies throughout the Denver area. Officers from neighboring departments offered to help cover patrol shifts and respond to calls so Lakewood personnel could support Graham’s family, their wounded colleagues and one another.
The shooting also disrupted RTD service around the intersection as investigators processed the bus and surrounding area. The transit agency said it was concerned for those affected and emphasized the safety of its passengers, employees and partners. The incident occurred on a contracted Route 76 bus, which runs through the Lakewood area.
The First Judicial District Critical Incident Response Team is investigating the police use of force, a standard procedure after an officer-involved shooting resulting in death or injury. Investigators have not announced a final account of the shooting, and officials have not released findings about the gunman’s actions beyond the initial police description of the encounter.
Lakewood police said the three surviving agents were recovering as the investigation continued. Neighboring agencies were expected to assist with police coverage while the department mourned Graham and supported those injured in the shooting. Further details about the gunman, the bystander and the investigation had not been officially released.
Author note: Last updated November 7, 2026.