In the small southwestern Colorado town of Cortez, a routine traffic stop on a Wednesday morning spiraled into a tragedy that claimed the life of a dedicated police sergeant. On November 29, 2023, Cortez Police Sergeant Michael Moran, a 46-year-old male, conducted a traffic stop on South Broadway around 11:25 a.m. following a report of a reckless driver. Almost immediately after initiating the stop, shots were fired, and Sergeant Moran was struck.
The suspect fled the scene in their vehicle, leaving the gravely wounded officer behind. Sergeant Moran was rushed to Southwest Memorial Hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries. A veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps with two tours in Iraq, Moran had served the Cortez Police Department for 11 years and was a former K-9 handler. He was a father to two daughters.
Within minutes of the initial shooting, officers from the Cortez Police Department and the Montezuma County Sheriff's Office located the suspect's vehicle approximately a mile and a half away. Another exchange of gunfire ensued, during which the suspect was shot and killed. The suspect was later identified as 44-year-old Jason Campbell of Ogden, Utah.
A second individual who was in the vehicle with Campbell was taken into custody, interviewed by investigators, and subsequently released. Authorities have stated that there are no other suspects being sought in connection with the shooting. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation is leading the ongoing investigation into the incident.
