A critical incident response team is investigating an officer-involved shooting in Mesa County.
Just after 9:30 p.m. on Friday, Mesa County sheriff deputies responded to the 500 block of 31 ½ Road to contact a wanted male suspect.
According to a Saturday news release from the sheriff’s department, once deputies made contact with the suspect, 56-year-old Ray Cox, he responded with force and the deputies on the scene shot him.
Paramedics transported Cox to the hospital where he was later discharged and booked into the Mesa County Detention Facility on charges of assaulting a peace officer and criminal mischief.
The deputies involved have been placed on paid administrative leave, the standard protocol for officer-involved shootings, while the investigation takes place, Monday’s news release stated.
According to the release, the findings will be turned over to the 21st Judicial District Attorney’s Office for review.
The Mesa County Sheriff’s Office will be responsible for releasing the names of the involved deputies.
All officer-involved shootings in Mesa County are investigated by the 21st Judicial District Critical Incident Response Team, 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 Mesa County Sheriff’s Office personnel were involved in this incident, the Grand Junction Police Department is leading this investigation on behalf of CIRT.
The Mesa County Sheriff’s Office did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
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