Police investigate the scene of an early morning shootout that led to the death of a Douglas County sheriff deputy on Dec. 31, 2017 in Highlands Ranch.
The gunman used an M16 rifle, an M4 rifle, a shotgun and a Glock pistol during the shootout, Lauren Lekander, a department spokeswoman, said Tuesday. The gunman, Matthew Riehl, legally owned 15 weapons purchased between 2011 and 2016, and 11 of them were in working order at the time of the shooting, she said.
M16 and M4 guns are military-grade rifles. Civilian versions of the weapons are sold in the United States, but Lekander did not know whether Riehl, a former Wyoming National Guard soldier, had the military type or civilian versions of the weapons. In media interviews, Spurlock used the military nomenclature to describe the weapons.
On Tuesday, Spurlock released pictures of the guns, a more detailed timeline of how the fatal encounter unfolded and hours of body camera footage from deputies involved in the shooting. The body camera footage is graphic as various officers inside the apartment recorded the moment Riehl begins shooting with Parrish standing directly in front of his bedroom door.
Editor’s note: The following video contains imagery that some might find disturbing.
The timeline shows the gunman had video cameras positioned outside his apartment, and SWAT team members shot the cameras to disable them before the rescue attempt.
Parrish had been called to the apartment at 3 a.m. and at 5:17 a.m. on the morning of Dec. 31 for reports of a domestic disturbance but determined he was responding to a mental health crisis. On the second call, Parrish had decided to take Riehl into custody on a mental health hold after Riehl exhibited signs that he was a danger to himself and others.
Parrish and deputies Taylor Davis, Michael Doyle and Jeff Pelle went inside Parrish’s apartment after a roommate gave them a key. Riehl, who had shut himself inside a bedroom, asked the deputies to identify themselves and began firing through the closed door almost immediately.
Parrish was gunned down while Davis jumped through a second-story window. Doyle and Pelle helped each other out the front door and down the apartment stairs.
The body camera footage shows the deputies trying to talk to Riehl and calm him down during the first call. They leave without taking him into custody or writing any citations.
On the second call, Parrish spoke in a calm voice and gently knocked on the apartment’s front door, asking Riehl to let him inside, according to Davis’ body camera footage. Riehl can be heard yelling from inside.
When they decide to go in, Parrish tells Davis to back off in case Riehl had a gun. They go back down the stairs and discuss a strategy for taking Riehl into custody.
When they finally go inside, they use a key to unlock it but eventually kick in the door, which appears to have a chain or some kind of barricade in front of it. The apartment is filled with junk that deputies waded through, and an ironing board was blocking Riehl’s bedroom door.
Parrish called out that he was from the sheriff’s office as he stood in front of the bedroom door trying to kick it open. Riehl opened fire and Parrish collapsed. His fellow deputies tried to crawl back to him, but the gunman continued to shoot, forcing them to leave. Both had been shot.
In other footage, deputies rushed to the scene in their cars while it was still dark. By the time the SWAT team rushed toward gunfire, it was daylight.
Castle Rock Police Department officer Tom O’Donnell, a member of the SWAT unit, was wounded during the rescue. Riehl was killed.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Elizabeth police officer Sean Bigler, middle, gets a hug from a fellow officer during a candle light vigil for her their friend and fellow officer Douglas County deputy sheriff Zackari Parrish at Mission Hills church on Jan. 1, 2018 in Littleton.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Officers and friends of slain Douglas County deputy sheriff Zackari Parrish hug one another during a candlelight vigil at Mission Hills church on Jan. 1, 2018 in Littleton.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Elizabeth police officer Sean Bigler, middle, cries with his wife and fellow officers by his side during a candle light vigil for his friend and fellow officer Douglas County deputy sheriff Zackari Parrish at Mission Hills church on Jan. 1, 2018 in Littleton.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Gracie Parrish, middle, holding her daughter Evie, rests her head in her hands, as she is overcome with emotion during a candlelight vigil for her slain husband Douglas County deputy sheriff Zackari Parrish at Mission Hills church on Jan. 1, 2018 in Littleton.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Douglas county sheriff deputies arrive for a candlelight vigil for slain Douglas County deputy sheriff Zackari Parrish at Mission Hills church on Jan. 1, 2018 in Littleton.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Volunteer Kim Lundquist, left, hands out candles before a candlelight vigil for slain Douglas County deputy sheriff Zackari Parrish at Mission Hills church on Jan. 1, 2018 in Littleton.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
A Castle Rock police officer, wearing black over his badge, arrives for a candlelight vigil for slain Douglas County deputy sheriff Zackari Parrish at Mission Hills church on Jan. 1, 2018 in Littleton.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
A makeshift memorial has started as people leave flowers on a police cruiser outside of the Douglas County Sheriff Substation for Deputy sheriff Zackari Parrish Parrish on Jan. 1, 2018 in Highlands Ranch.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
People leave flowers on a police cruiser outside of the Douglas County Sheriff Substation for Deputy sheriff Zackari Parrish on Jan. 1, 2018 in Highlands Ranch. Parrish, 29, killed when deputies responded to a domestic disturbance at Copper Canyon apartment complex.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
People embrace after leaving flowers on a police cruiser outside of the Douglas County Sheriff Substation for Deputy sheriff Zackari Parrish on Jan. 1, 2018 in Highlands Ranch.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Neighbors of Deputy Zackari Parrish placed blue ribbons on trees in honor of him on Dec. 31, 2017 in Highlands Ranch.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Sheriff deputies put up police tape around the scene of an early morning shootout that led to the death of a Douglas County sheriff deputy on Dec. 31, 2017 in Highlands Ranch.
Joe Amon, The Denver Post
A gunman killed one Douglas County deputy and wounded four others during an early morning ambush as they responded to a domestic disturbance call at a Highlands Ranch apartment complex Dec. 31, 2017.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Police investigate the scene of an early morning shootout that led to the death of a Douglas County sheriff deputy on Dec. 31, 2017 in Highlands Ranch.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
A tow truck driver secures the suspect's vehicle to his truck as police continue to investigate the scene of an early morning shootout that led to the death of a Douglas County sheriff deputy on Dec. 31, 2017 in Highlands Ranch. Deputy Zackari Parrish, 29, was killed and four other deputies were wounded in what police described as an ambush when deputies responded to a domestic disturbance at Copper Canyon Apartment complex at 3401 E. County Line Road.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Police investigate the scene of an early morning shootout that led to the death of a Douglas County sheriff deputy on Dec. 31, 2017 in Highlands Ranch. Deputy Zackari Parrish, 29, was killed and four other deputies were wounded in what police described as an ambush when deputies responded to a domestic disturbance at Copper Canyon Apartment complex at 3401 E. County Line Road.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Police investigate the scene of an early morning shootout that led to the death of a Douglas County sheriff deputy on Dec. 31, 2017 in Highlands Ranch.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Police investigate the scene of an early morning shootout that led to the death of a Douglas County sheriff deputy on Dec. 31, 2017 in Highlands Ranch.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Police investigate the scene of an early morning shootout that led to the death of a Douglas County sheriff deputy on Dec. 31, 2017 in Highlands Ranch.
Joe Amon, The Denver Post
A gunman killed one Douglas County deputy and wounded four others during an early morning ambush as they responded to a domestic disturbance call at a Highlands Ranch apartment complex Dec. 31, 2017.
Joe Amon, The Denver Post
A gunman killed one Douglas County deputy and wounded four others during an early morning ambush as they responded to a domestic disturbance call at a Highlands Ranch apartment complex Dec. 31, 2017.
Helen H. Richardson, The Denver Post
Police investigate the scene of an early morning shootout that led to the death of a Douglas County sheriff deputy on Dec. 31, 2017 in Highlands Ranch. Deputy Zackari Parrish, 29, was killed and four other deputies were wounded in what police described as an ambush when deputies responded to a domestic disturbance at Copper Canyon Apartment complex at 3401 E. County Line Road. The gunman used a rifle and fired at least 100 rounds at the deputies. The gunman was killed in the shootout with law enforcement officers. Parrish is survived by a wife and two children. He had been a deputy for only 7 months. The other injured officers are Dep. Mike Doyle, 28, Dep. Taylor Davis, 30 and Dep. Jeffrey Pelle, 32. Castle Rock police officer Tom O'Donnell, 41 was also injured. All are listed as stable at area hospitals.
Joe Amon, The Denver Post
A gunman killed one Douglas County deputy and wounded four others during an early morning ambush as they responded to a domestic disturbance call at a Highlands Ranch apartment complex. Dec. 31, 2017 in Denver.
Joe Amon, The Denver Post
A gunman killed one Douglas County deputy and wounded four others during an early morning ambush as they responded to a domestic disturbance call at a Highlands Ranch apartment complex Dec. 31, 2017.
John Leyba, The Denver Post
Police officers line up their patrol cars outside of Littleton Adventist Hospital for a procession honoring an officer who was fatally wounded in a domestic incident in a Highlands Ranch apartment complex on Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017.
John Leyba, The Denver Post
Emergency personnel shield the cameras with a white sheet as they load fallen officer who was shot and killed during a domestic violence call in a Highlands Ranch apartment complex early Sunday. Various police agencies lined up for a procession for fallen officer on Dec. 31, 2017 in Littleton.
John Leyba, The Denver Post
A bystander stands on the side of the road on S. Broadway holding an American flag as a procession leaves Littleton Hospital with fallen officer who was shot and killed during a domestic violence call in a Highlands Ranch apartment complex early Sunday. Various police agencies lined up for the procession on Dec. 31, 2017 in Littleton.
John Leyba, The Denver Post
A hearse arrives at Littleton Hospital as officers from various police agencies line up for a procession for fallen officer on Dec. 31, 2017 in Littleton. One Douglas County deputy died and four more wounded along with two civilians Sunday morning at a Highlands Ranch apartment complex.
A drunken driver, who was three times above the legal DUI limit, when she crashed killing a passenger in her car was sentened Tuesday in Weld County to ten years in prison.
