Aurora Police Department, Colorado
End of Watch: Wednesday, September 20, 2006
Age: 52
Tour of Duty: 24 years
Badge Number: 82-60
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: September 20, 2006
Weapon Used: Handgun
Suspect Info: Sentenced to 80 years
Agent Mike Thomas was shot and killed by a suspect who opened fire on him while he was stopped at a traffic light at the intersection of Peoria Street and East Montview Boulevard.
Agent Thomas had just left a training session and was heading to another session when the incident occurred.
The shooter was subdued by several passersby and then taken into custody by an Aurora police officer and two Federal Bureau of Prisons correctional officers who happened to be in the area. The man was wanted in Denver for an unprovoked shooting that had occurred the previous week.
The subject was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 80 years in prison on April 6th, 2009.
Agent Thomas was a United States Air Force Vietnam War veteran and had served with the Aurora Police Department for 24 years. He is survived by his daughter, mother, and brother.