The Broomfield Police Department has confirmed that the suspect in the fatal shooting of a Lakewood police agent was released from the Broomfield Detention Center last month. This development follows a deadly incident on an RTD bus near West Colfax Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard where Agent Nicholas Graham, 33, was shot and killed.
Gabriel Garcia, 34, is the suspect in the case. The shooting took place on a Thursday night, resulting in the death of Agent Graham and injuries to three other agents as well as one bystander. The incident has drawn significant attention due to Garcia's recent release from custody and his extensive criminal history across the Denver metro area.
According to police records, Garcia was a passenger in a truck involved in a hit and run collision on September 28. A Broomfield officer stopped the vehicle shortly after the accident. During the stop, officers identified four individuals inside the truck and conducted records checks on the driver and all passengers.
During these checks, authorities determined that Garcia had an active, no-bond warrant through the Colorado Parole system. He was subsequently arrested and issued a misdemeanor summons after allegedly providing officers with an incorrect name. This arrest occurred just weeks before the fatal bus shooting, making the Broomfield Police Department the last agency to take him into custody prior to the incident.
Broomfield police stated that the detention center received an official detainer or hold form from the Colorado Department of Corrections for Garcia. However, on October 20, 2026, the facility received a release authorization form. This document directed Garcia's release with specific instructions for him to report to the Westminster Parole Office on October 21.
Records from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation outline a lengthy history of legal troubles for Garcia, spanning multiple jurisdictions including the City and County of Denver, Jefferson County, Arapahoe County, and Adams County. In 2017, Garcia pleaded guilty to felony assault and began serving a ten-year sentence. By 2023, he was back out of prison and had accumulated new charges.
Most recently, Garcia had been on parole for felony trespassing. A spokesperson for the Colorado Department of Corrections confirmed that Garcia was released to mandatory parole supervision on September 23, 2026. At the time of the shooting, he was under the supervision of the Division of Adult Parole.
The department noted that Garcia was sentenced on April 22, 2026, in Adams County for First-Degree Criminal Trespass of an Inhabited Dwelling. His sentence consisted of one year in the custody of the Colorado Department of Corrections, followed by one year of mandatory parole. He also received 149 days of credit for presentence confinement.
The timing of his release and the subsequent arrest for a warrant have raised questions about the coordination between local law enforcement and state parole authorities. Broomfield police are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the release and the shooting.
The case has highlighted the complexities of tracking suspects with multiple warrants and parole conditions across different jurisdictions. As the investigation progresses, officials aim to clarify the timeline of events leading up to the fatal incident on the RTD bus.
