Grand Junction Police Chief Matt Smith requested the activation of the Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT). The Mesa County Sheriff’s Office is releasing the following information on behalf of the 21st Judicial District CIRT to conduct an independent investigation.

GRAND JUNCTION, COLO. - The CIRT is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred at 709 North Ave. on Friday, June 19, 2026, at approximately 6:30 p.m. Grand Junction Police Department officers responded to multiple callers reporting a male suspect with a knife inside the Dairy Queen.

Upon arrival, two officers confronted an adult male suspect located in a vehicle in the business parking lot where an officer-involved shooting occurred. The suspect fled in the vehicle, crashing into another vehicle while exiting the business parking lot. The suspect vehicle eventually stopped after striking multiple vehicles west of the intersection at North 1st St. and North Ave.

One victim with injuries consistent with a knife assault was transported to an area hospital with serious bodily injuries. One person from a motor vehicle collision was transported to an area hospital with unknown injuries by emergency medical personnel. The suspect was transported to an area hospital by emergency medical personnel, where he was pronounced deceased. The Mesa County Coroner will determine cause and manner of death, and release the identity of the suspect.

The investigation remains ongoing, and details can change as more information becomes available through the course of the investigation. Additional details will be released as appropriate with sensitivity to the ongoing case. The Grand Junction Police Department will be responsible for releasing the names of the involved officers. As per their agency’s policy, the officers have been placed on administrative leave.

Anyone with information or video of this incident, please call Investigator Kandyce Stuckenschneider at (970) 244-3266 or by email at Kandyce.Stuck@mesacounty.us.

Officer-involved shooting incidents in Mesa County are investigated by the 21st Judicial District Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT), which is comprised of representatives of the Grand Junction Police Department, Mesa County Sheriff’s Office, Fruita Police Department, Palisade Police Department, Colorado State Patrol, Colorado Department of Corrections, 21st Judicial District Attorney’s Office, and Colorado Bureau of Investigation. Because Grand Junction Police Department personnel were involved in this incident, the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office is leading this investigation on behalf of CIRT.