Lakewood Police are investigating a fatal officer-involved shooting that took place at approximately 5:54 a.m., April 1.
According to the press release from Lakewood PD, Public Information Officer, John Romero, police were called to the Carmel Waterfront apartments at 10555 West Jewell around 3 a.m. for reports of a suspect, later identified as 35-year-old Steven Ross Glass of Lakewood, menacing his neighbor and throwing rocks at his door. The reporting party stated that when he tried to confront him, Glass brandished a gun.
According to Romero, when police responded to Glass's apartment, he barricaded himself inside and refused to come out.
“The suspect also made various threats to agents that he was armed and would kill any law enforcement who tried to enter,” Romero said.
West Metro SWAT arrived at the scene a short time later and attempted to negotiate with Glass to surrender but he refused.
At 5:54 a.m. Glass came to his balcony and began firing a weapon (subsequently determined to be an Airsoft pistol) at police. Glass went back into his apartment and shortly thereafter returned to the balcony with what looked like a sawed-off shotgun, when a SWAT member fired one round at him. Glass later died from the injury.
After the incident, the shotgun Glass used was determined to be an Airsoft shotgun as well.
Airsoft guns are recreational battery-powered guns similar to paintball guns, that shoot 6mm plastic bb’s. Some Airsoft guns have an orange tip on the barrel of the weapon that can distinguish them from a real gun. However, the shotgun Glass used did not have the colorful indicator in the photos released by Lakewood PD.
