Colorado & Denver News

WESTMINSTER, Colo. (CBS4) ― Police have identified the man and woman who were killed in a shootout with Westminster police on Thursday. They are Christian Benshoof, 35, and Ashley Johnson, 25, both of Loveland. They were common law husband and wife.

Benshoof was shot multiple times, with the fatal bullet to the head and upper chest, according to the Adams County Coroner. Johnson died from multiple gunshot wounds, with the fatal bullet to the chest.

The incident started at about noon when the pair allegedly robbed the FirstBank at 120th and Sheridan with a gun.

FBI Special Agent Kathy Wright described the surveillance video of the couple, who robbed the bank without wearing disguises. "There was a male and female that enter the bank, both were armed with a handgun, they approached the tellers inside the bank, demanded money, then fled the bank with an undisclosed amount of money," said Wright.

Wright said the fact that they didn't use disguises does not mean they were rookies. "The majority of bank robberies, there's either no disguise or very little disguise," said Wright. "We're not looking at them as suspects in any other robberies."



The couple didn't get far. A few minutes later, officers spotted the suspects' car at 104th and Federal. That's where police say Benshoof and Johnson shot at them.

Westminster Police said the couple threw the money out of the car as they sped away. After a short chase, officers stopped the car at 120th and Federal. That's where the shootout happened.

Two police officers were hurt in the shootout. Officer Sean Chandler, an 11-year veteran with Westminster police, was shot in the hip. He was released from St. Anthony's Central Hospital on Friday and is recovering at home.

Deputy Chief Tim Carlson was grazed by a bullet but the injury was described as not being serious. Carlson has been with the Westminster police since 1987.

An independent investigation is underway by the Adams County District Attorney, law enforcement and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation to see if the use of deadly force by the officers was justifiable. It will be ultimately up to the DA to decide if the officers acted appropriately.

For now, any of the officers that fired a weapon is on paid administrative leave until the investigation is complete. That is routine in cases like this but it's still unclear how many officers were involved.

Witnesses on Thursday described a chaotic scene.

"I saw the silver car kind of spin around, and then I saw cops just jump out and start shooting," witness Mary Montoya said. "I was screaming out my balcony, screaming, and crying and telling them to stop, stop shooting. It was horrible to see. It was really hard to see. I hope I never have to see something like that again in my life. The shots wouldn't stop and the commotion didn't stop and it was horrible."

The crime scene in the afternoon showed dozens of bullet holes in the white vehicle that belonged to Benshoof and Johnson.

Benshoof died during the shooting and his female passenger, Johnson, was shot and later died from her injuries at the hospital. Police said they stole some money from the bank but didn't reveal how much. No one at the bank was hurt.

"I can't say that even in six years of the experience in New York, I can recall one bank robbery with a female. There might have been one or two with a female getaway driver, but that was it," said Wright.

Detectives remained in Westminster on Friday talking to witnesses and trying to get surveillance tapes from the local businesses in the area to piece together all the details of what happened.

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