On the evening of April 12, 1980, a 27-year-old male Colorado Springs Police Department patrolman, Augustus J. Perreira, Jr., was tragically killed in the line of duty. While on patrol, he was stopped by a clerk from a 7-Eleven store located at 2555 Delta Drive who informed him of a man causing a disturbance inside. Officer Perreira entered the convenience store, unaware that a formal disturbance call had already been made, and began to escort the disruptive individual out.
As they neared the exit, the man, later identified as Seth Buckmaster, unexpectedly announced that he would not be going to jail. He then pulled out a hidden. 38 caliber revolver and fired at Officer Perreira multiple times. Despite sustaining fatal injuries, the officer was able to draw his own weapon and wound Buckmaster. Augustus J. Perreira, Jr. was a United States Army veteran and had served with the police force for two years. He left behind a wife and a child.
The suspect, Seth Buckmaster, was taken into custody and subsequently went to trial. He was ultimately found not guilty by reason of insanity and was committed to the Colorado State Hospital. It came to light that Buckmaster had a history of mental health issues, including paranoid delusions concerning the police, and had been recently discharged from the Fort Logan Mental Health Center. In the aftermath of the tragic event, Officer Perreira's wife initiated a wrongful death lawsuit, claiming negligence on the part of the State of Colorado, the mental health facility, and the psychiatrist who oversaw Buckmaster's treatment and release. Seth Buckmaster remained at the Colorado State Hospital until he passed away in 2010.
