Stratton Town Marshal Stabbed; Attacker Killed
CBI Investigating Early-Morning Incident

POSTED: 12:54 p.m. MDT September 24, 2004
UPDATED: 5:41 p.m. MDT September 24, 2004


Story by thedenverchannel.com

STRATTON, Colo. -- The town marshal of Stratton was stabbed numerous times Friday, but not before shooting and killing his attacker, investigators told 7NEWS.

The incident happened at about 6:30 a.m., when Marshal Dan Cooper went to a reported disturbance at a residence in the 100 block of Iowa Street.


According to investigators, Cooper got into a physical confrontation with the suspect and was stabbed four times. Cooper fired his gun once, fatally wounding the suspect.

Both were taken to Burlington Hospital. The sususpect died at the hospital. Cooper was airlifted to St. Anthony Central in Denver in undisclosed condition.

Investigators with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation talked to witnesses and conducting a full-scale investigation.

Cooper is a former Kit Carson County deputy and had been the Stratton town marshal only about two weeks, residents said.

Stratton is located along Interstate 70, west of Burlington, in Kit Carson County.