Off-Duty Detective Shot In Arvada: Man Found Guilty Of 10 Charges

ARVADA, CO — A man was found guilty of multiple counts after he robbed an Arvada gas station and fired shots at an off-duty police officer who intervened, according to the 1st Judicial District Attorney's Office.

Samuel McConnell, 45, was found guilty of second-degree assault, aggravated robbery, theft, reckless endangerment, reckless driving, child abuse and several other charges, the office said. He was acquitted of attempted first-degree murder and first-degree assault charges.

McConnell was wearing a mask and had a handgun when he went into the Circle K gas station at Kipling Street and West 80th Avenue on Dec. 18, 2019, prosecutors said. He left his 2-year-old daughter in his car, according to authorities.

He then demanded money from the store clerk, prosecutors said.

An off-duty Denver detective was outside the gas station with his son, when another customer warned them about the robbery that was occurring. The detective drew his gun and as he approached the store door, McConnell came out, according to the detective's testimony.

Surveillance video shows the detective telling McConnell repeatedly to stop, and the detective said he was quickly "looking down the barrel of a gun," so he fired his weapon, and McConnell fired back.

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The detective was shot in both arms. McConnell's car windshield was struck by one of the detective's bullets, but the 2-year-old was unharmed.

McConnell sped off in his car, collided with another vehicle on West 80th Avenue, and continued north on Kipling Parkway, authorities said.

Tips from the public led to McConnell's arrest the same day in the 8300 block of Sheridan Boulevard.

"McConnell left the store with a little over $200 cash and admitted that his two-year-old daughter was in the car during the robbery and the subsequent shooting and his flight," the attorney's office said in a news release.

The off-duty detective was hospitalized in stable condition.

McConnell is being held at the Jefferson County jail. He faces between 10 and 49 years in prison. His sentencing date has not yet been set.