07/19/2026
************* Press Release *****************
Holyoke Police Department Officer Involved Response and Barricaded Suspect – July 17–18, 2026
On July 17, 2026, at approximately 10:00 p.m., officers of the Holyoke Police Department responded to a report of multiple gunshots near the 300 block of South Campbell Avenue. Upon arrival, officers observed a male individual, identified as 35 year old Jeffrey Allen Torrez, pacing in the front yard of a residence while holding a large caliber hunting r***e. When Torrez became aware of law enforcement presence, he retreated into the residence and barricaded himself inside.
Due to the armed suspect and the potential for further gunfire, additional resources were requested. Officers from the Haxtun Police Department and the Phillips County Sheriff’s Office arrived shortly thereafter to assist in securing the area. Additional support was provided by the Yuma Police Department, Colorado State Patrol, and the Yuma County Sheriff’s Office.
Once the residence was contained, officers conducted an evacuation of nearby homes to ensure public safety. A Holyoke Police Department armored vehicle was deployed, and officers issued repeated verbal commands for the suspect to exit the residence; no response was received. Given the heightened risk, the Northeast Regional SP.E.A.R. Team was activated, along with tactical personnel from the Kit Carson County Sheriff’s Office.
Upon arrival, the tactical team deployed an aerial drone, which confirmed the residence was barricaded from within. A SP.E.A.R. hostage negotiator attempted multiple phone contacts with the suspect, all of which went unanswered.
After several hours of unsuccessful communication attempts, the tactical team introduced less lethal chemical mu*****ns into the residence in an effort to prompt the suspect to surrender. Torrez remained barricaded and unresponsive. At approximately 2:10 a.m., tactical officers breached a window to deploy an aerial drone inside the residence to locate the suspect. Upon breaching the window, Officers observed Torrez lying on a couch and determined he was unresponsive. Tactical entry was made, and Torrez was found deceased from a suspected controlled substance overdose. An autopsy will be conducted to confirm the official cause of death.
The Holyoke Police Department extends its deepest appreciation to the Haxtun Police Department, Phillips County Sheriff’s Office, Kit Carson County Sheriff’s Office, Colorado State Patrol, Yuma Police Department, Yuma County Sheriff’s Office, Holyoke EMS, and the Holyoke Fire Department for their rapid, coordinated, and professional response. We would also like to thank the Phillips County Communication Center and the City of Holyoke for their amazing support and response.