Benjamin "Benji" Arvizo, 31

ALAMOSA– Alamosa County Coroner Joe Dzuris has identified the car theft suspect who was killed by a sheriff’s deputy Tuesday afternoon as Benjamin (Benji) Arvizo, 31, believed to be from Alamosa.

He was shot and killed by an Alamosa County Sheriff’s Office deputy just northwest of Alamosa after reportedly threatening nearby residents and police officers with a knife.

A Facebook post by the ACSO said the department responded to a stolen vehicle report at the IHOP restaurant and posted a BOLO (be on the lookout). Dispatch informed officers that the vehicle was located at a residence reportedly on the north end of Road 107, north of the Comfort Inn Hotel, and a male suspect was said to be making threats to the residents with a knife.

The ACSO and a trooper with the Colorado State Patrol arrived at the scene and confronted the male suspect who was armed with a knife. During the encounter, a deputy discharged his firearm, killing the suspect. First aid was administered following the incident and the suspect was transported to SLV Health.

The ACSO news release said, “this is a very fluid on-going investigation, and we will provide updates as more information becomes available.”

Alamosa County Sheriff Robert Jackson declined to identify the officer involved at this time.

The Alamosa Police Department is assisting with this investigation and Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been contacted.

“We want to assure the community that there is no ongoing threat to the community at this time,” the ACSO said.