CO Man Sonny Almanza ID’d As Suspect In Deadly Arvada Shooting Of Officer Dillon Vakoff

JEFFERSON COUNTY, CO. (THECOUNT) — Sonny Thomas Almanza 3rd, of Denver, Colorado, has been identified as the suspect in the fatal shooting of Arvada Police Officer Dillon Vakoff and a woman on Sunday.

Almanza, 31, who was also shot during the Arvada disturbance, is now facing eight charges including first-degree murder of a peace officer.

According to reports, Officer Vakoff responded to a disturbance in the 6700 block of West 51st Avenue in Arvada around 2:30 a.m. Sunday. At some point, Vakoff and the unidentified woman were hit by gunfire. Officers returned fire striking Almanza.

Almanza’s mother said her family called police when Sonny’s girlfriend’s family “came to start trouble.” She said officers were breaking up a fight between the two families and her son fired at the officer thinking he was one of his girlfriend’s family members, KDVR is reporting.

Vakoff was transported to Lutheran Hospital where he later died of gunshot injuries.

Almanza and the woman were transported to the hospital where they’re both expected to survive.

Almanza is also expected to be charged with unlawful weapon possession by a previous offender, and child abuse.

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Geo quick facts: Jefferson County, is a county located in the U.S. state of Colorado. As of the 2020 census, the population was 582,910, making it the fourth-most populous county in Colorado. The county seat is Golden, and the most populous city is Lakewood – Wikipedia.