Arvada police officer died whereas breaking apart violent dispute over little one custody, arrest warrant says | information

Arvada Police Officer Dylan Vakoff was shot in the head and leg from just a car length away, according to an affidavit released Monday.

The affidavit said Vakoff and another officer were responding to a dispute over custody of two children when they pulled up to Arvada at 6753 West 51st at 1:45 a.m. on Sept. 11.

The suspect, Sonny Almanza, told police he was walking toward the riot with his gun when he heard a gunshot and realized he had been shot “on the outside of his right hip.” He told police he fired a shot at a person he saw standing between two vehicles in a parking lot outside his home.

That person was Vakoff, 27, who was in the process of ending a runaway family feud, the affidavit said.

Contrary to Almanza’s account that he fired only once, police found 8 rounds in the brick wall behind Vakoff and more in the vehicles parked on either side of where he fell. Neighbors said they saw another officer pump his chest, but that Vakoff didn’t move.

Almanza also told police that he only realized he was shooting at a police officer after the shot was fired. Almanza was actually in the car where the original call was made to report the disruption. When Almanza’s car arrived, officers were already there, the affidavit said.

According to the arrest warrant, suspect Almanza, 31, and his wife, Lexis Lopez, had been fighting for their children since the couple split two weeks ago. That night, according to the warrant, there was a vicious family argument on the street, and Almanza was furious that Lopez had left the children with teenagers and brought them back.

Almanza also allegedly shot Lopez’ sister Mercedes. Doctors said Lopez’s injury was not serious.

Neighbors said they were woken up by the gunshots and someone yelled “No!”

“I will never forget the sound of that scream,” said a resident who identified himself only as Brian.

Another neighbor, Joe Majestic, said he saw a police officer grab a baby by the diaper and put the child in a squad car.

That night, while Almanza was in custody, police found a pistol, two rifles and two high-capacity magazines in and around his home, according to the affidavit.

Last week, Chief District Attorney Alexis King formally indicted Almanza on 11 counts relating to Vakoff’s death and the shooting of Mercedes Lopez.

Charges officially brought against Almanza included first-degree murder of a peace officer and first-degree murder with extreme indifference in the death of Vakoff; attempted murder with extreme indifference and second-degree assault against Lopez; and possession of a gun by a previous offender.

Almanza attorney Jim O’Conner asked the judge to vacate a protective order for the defendant’s children, but the judge did not rule on that request.

Thousands of police officers from across the state attended Vakoff’s funeral on September 16. The Air Force veteran had been with the Arvada Police Department for three years. Friends and family said he dreams of becoming a SWAT officer and is in love with a woman who is also a police officer at Arvada.

Almanza is scheduled for an application hearing on October 7 and a preliminary hearing on November 9.