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Officer, suspect killed in a shootout after a traffic stop in Cortez

The injured police officer was taken to a nearby hospital, where he died

A Cortez police officer and a suspect were killed in a shootout following a traffic stop in southwest Colorado on Wednesday. Photo courtesy of Jim Hucks
A Cortez police officer and a suspect were killed in a shootout following a traffic stop in southwest Colorado on Wednesday. Photo courtesy of Jim Hucks
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CORTEZ — A police officer and a suspect were killed in a shootout following a traffic stop in southwest Colorado on Wednesday, authorities said.

Police say the officer, whose name has not been released, was shot after pulling over a vehicle shortly before noon in the rural town of Cortez in the Four Corners region, where New Mexico, Arizona, Utah and Colorado meet. The suspects fled in their vehicle, and shots were exchanged with police a short time later.

One of the suspects was shot and died at the scene. Another was taken into custody.

The injured police officer was taken to a nearby hospital, where he died.

No other information has been released.

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