Lakewood police identify officer who died in RTD bus shooting

Lakewood police Friday afternoon identified Nick Graham as the officer killed in a shooting Thursday evening on a Regional Transportation District bus at the intersection of West Colfax Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard.

“Graham’s life was taken in an act of violence that left his family, our department and this community grieving,” Police Chief Philip Smith said at a news conference Friday afternoon.

Graham, 33, joined the department in January 2019, according to Smith.

Three other police officers were injured in the shooting. Two have been released from local hospitals and the third remains in the hospital, according to John Romero, a department spokesman.

Their injuries Thursday evening ranged from serious to critical.

“They’re all recovering,” Romero said. “Our thoughts are with them and their families at this time as they work toward healing and recovery.”

The suspect, aged 34, died after police returned fire. The Lakewood Police Department will not release his name until they notify the suspect’s family.

One of the four people on the bus was also injured in the shooting, but “the extent of their injuries is still unknown at this time,” Romero said.

Lakewood Mayor Wendi Strom praised the department’s officers for putting themselves in harm’s way to protect the community:

“In these darkest hours, our show of support and condolences reflect the intense respect for the work our officers do every day,” Strom said in a statement Friday. “As we experience an incomprehensible loss, I ask our community to come together to grieve and care for one another. »

The suspect was boarding an RTD bus around 6:30 p.m. when he opened fire, Romero said.

A group of officers recognized the man from a description provided by witnesses to a hit-and-run earlier in the day. Shortly after officers approached the suspect, he began shooting, Romero said.

Graham came from a family of police officers, according to Smith. His father recently retired and his mother worked in a crime lab.

Lakewood Police Officer Nic Graham was killed in a Nov. 5, 2026, shooting on a Lakewood Regional Transportation District bus. (Handout)

“From his earliest days on patrol to his work investigating major crimes, he stood out for his dedication, compassion and willingness to help others,” Smith said.

In 2023, he became a field training officer, helping new officers develop the skills and judgment needed when working cases, Smith said. That year, he also received the Special Investigation Unit’s “Wingman Award” for his assistance in investigating gang violence, among others.

He coached less experienced officers, volunteered when others needed help and investigated some of the department’s biggest cases, including homicides, stalking cases and domestic violence, Smith said.

In the major crimes unit, he worked on 323 cases, the highest volume of cases on the team.

“Nicholas’ legacy is the police officers he mentored, the victims he supported and the people he treated with dignity and care,” Smith said.

RTD will continue to cooperate fully with Lakewood police and other agencies in their investigation into the shooting, the transit agency said in a statement on its website.

This is a developing story that will be updated.