One trooper remained hospitalized with serious injuries Wednesday while the second was released after the shootings in Teller County.
WOODLAND PARK, CO — Authorities have identified a 51-year-old Loveland man who died after two Colorado State Patrol troopers were shot during a traffic stop near Woodland Park and deputies later confronted the suspect at a nearby property.
The Teller County Coroner’s Office identified the man as Robert Rudolf Richards Jr. Authorities said Richards was pronounced dead at Pikes Peak Regional Hospital at noon Tuesday, Aug. 25. Colorado State Patrol identified the wounded troopers as Skylar Hoehn and Clark Tinan. Tinan suffered minor injuries and was released from the hospital Tuesday evening. Hoehn suffered serious injuries and remained hospitalized Wednesday afternoon but was doing well, the agency said.
The encounter began about 7:15 a.m. Tuesday near U.S. Highway 24 and Piney Point Lane, west of Woodland Park. State Patrol officials said a trooper attempted to stop a blue Subaru after a report of suspicious activity in the area. Authorities said the driver opened fire at the beginning of the stop, striking the trooper before driving away.
State Patrol Chief Matthew Packard said the wounded trooper was able to return to his patrol vehicle and alert dispatch that he had been shot and that the driver was fleeing. A second trooper responding to the call then encountered the suspect vehicle traveling in the opposite direction. Authorities said the driver fired again as the vehicles passed, striking the second trooper and damaging the patrol vehicle.
Both troopers were able to drive themselves to a hospital and walk into the emergency room, according to State Patrol officials. Hoehn has served with the Colorado State Patrol since January 2011. Tinan joined the agency in July 2016. Officials initially said both troopers were expected to recover, though Hoehn’s wounds were described as serious.
The shootings triggered a large law enforcement search and a shelter-in-place order for neighborhoods near Woodland Park. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation and other agencies distributed information about the suspect and his vehicle as officers searched the area. The warning was lifted after authorities located the suspect later Tuesday morning.
Investigators said the Teller County Sheriff’s Office received a tip at about 9:24 a.m. from a homeowner who reported that a contractor working at a property matched the description authorities had released. Deputies went to the location, where officials said the suspect opened fire as they approached. A deputy returned fire and struck him. No deputies were reported injured.
Authorities provided medical aid at the scene before Richards was taken to Pikes Peak Regional Hospital, where the coroner said he was pronounced dead at noon. Earlier public alerts described the suspect as being in custody after he was located. Officials later announced that he had died from injuries sustained during the confrontation.
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation is investigating the circumstances surrounding the shootings, including the gunfire involving the troopers and the later confrontation with the Teller County deputy. The Fourth Judicial District Attorney’s Office is expected to review the investigation involving the deputy to determine whether the use of deadly force was legally justified.
Gov. Jared Polis said Tuesday that he was devastated to learn that the two troopers had been wounded and wished them a full recovery. He also thanked the law enforcement agencies involved in the search and response. Authorities have not publicly announced a motive for the shootings, and investigators have not released findings explaining why the traffic stop escalated into gunfire.
As of the latest updates Wednesday, Tinan was out of the hospital and Hoehn remained hospitalized while recovering from serious injuries. The immediate threat to the Woodland Park area had ended, but the investigations into the shootings and the deputy’s use of force remained active.
Author note: Last updated August 27, 2026.