Shooting on Route 76 Bus Kills Lakewood Police Officer

A shooting on a public bus in Lakewood, Colorado, left one person dead and four others injured on Thursday night.

The victim is Lakewood police agent Nicholas Graham. Three other Lakewood police agents and one civilian passenger were also hurt in the incident, which took place on RTD Route 76.

Nate Weickum, a regular rider on the route, spoke with Denver7 after the event. He said he had a conversation with Officer Graham earlier that same day. "It's pretty scary," Weickum said. "How someone could just, you know, live and then be gone the next day."

Ronald Short, a representative for ATU 1001, the union representing RTD employees, said the group moved to support staff immediately after learning of the attack. He described the event as a grave tragedy that is difficult to prepare for. Short confirmed that the bus driver is physically fine.

Short praised the driver for maintaining composure during the incident. "Kudos to the operator for keeping his wits in that situation and coming out unharmed," Short said. The union is providing counseling for employees who work on that specific bus route.

RTD has not yet responded to inquiries about adding new safety measures. Short stated that the agency already addresses safety concerns through ongoing training. "RTD offers refresher courses or training on different areas and aspects of the job," Short said. He noted that operators receive instruction on handling various situations, including the unpredictable nature of passengers entering the vehicle.

Weickum said he will be more cautious when riding the bus in the future. "Whatever happens, you know, just to, you know, be safe, more cautious when you ride the bus," he said. Crime scene tape and flowers were visible at the intersection of Colfax and Wadsworth, marking the location of the shooting.