In the line of duty, 43-year-old Weld County Sheriff's Deputy Samuel Kent Brownlee, a male, was killed on November 23, 2010. His death followed a high-speed chase that began after a report was made to the Fort Morgan Police Department about a suspect who had stolen his girlfriend's car and was reportedly suicidal.
The pursuit wound through multiple jurisdictions, with speeds exceeding 100 miles per hour.
Officers from several agencies joined the chase, which eventually came to an end in the 3200 block of Coyote Lane in Evans, Colorado, after stop sticks were successfully deployed to disable the stolen vehicle.
Upon the vehicle stopping, a physical struggle ensued as officers, including Deputy Brownlee who had just arrived at the scene, attempted to take the suspect into custody. During the altercation, the suspect managed to gain control of Deputy Brownlee's sidearm and fired three rounds. Deputy Brownlee was struck by all three shots and was transported to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead. The suspect was also shot by another officer at the scene and later died from his wounds after being taken to the hospital.
