WESTMINSTER, Colorado – The man accused of opening fire on and then shooting a Colorado State Patrol trooper on U.S. 36 in Westminster over the weekend has been identified.

The Adams & Broomfield Counties Coroner’s Office said Victor Anthony De Santiago, 32, of Thornton, was killed in the shooting. He died at the scene, which was along eastbound U.S. 36 near Federal Boulevard in Westminster. The coroner said the manner and cause of death have not been determined pending further investigation.

The incident began around 1:18 p.m. Saturday when Trooper Tye Simcox – a 16-year veteran of the CSP – was standing in his marked patrol car on the median of eastbound U.S. 36, west of Federal Boulevard. He had parked between two concrete barriers and was filling out his reporting paperwork when a driver in a black Chevrolet pickup truck slowed as he passed the trooper and fired several shots from a semi-automatic pistol at the patrol car, CSP Col. Matthew Packard said during a news conference Saturday.

Denver7 (profile picture courtesy of CSP)

A bullet hit Trooper Simcox’s arm.

The suspect driver – later identified as Santiago – then pulled onto the shoulder, exited his car and began shooting at the windshield of the CSP patrol car, hitting the car several times, Packard said. Simcox returned fire, killing him.

Trooper Simcox placed a tourniquet on his arm until another trooper arrived on the scene. He was then transported to Denver Health Medical Center with non-life threatening injuries. He was able to go home the same day.

CSP trooper recovers after being shot by suspect on median of US 36

Packard said Saturday that authorities did not yet know why Santiago targeted the police officer.

Watch Saturday’s press conference with CSP in the video below.

Update on the shooting on US 36 in Westminster where a CSP police officer was shot by a suspect

“I’ll tell you very frankly that our member was attacked today by a man who wanted to kill him. That is shocking and unacceptable. But our Colorado State Trooper responded appropriately, quickly and courageously and won today,” Packard said. “And in winning, he not only saved his own life, but he saved the lives of the rest of this community from someone who clearly had evil intentions. And I want everyone to know that we came out victorious today. And that’s really, really important because that’s what good does. Good and courageous people win over evil cowardice and that’s exactly what happened today on Highway 36.”

Highway 36 was closed between Lowell Boulevard and Federal Boulevard for several hours.