Original Story Published: 7/18/2022 - 12:53PM:
Arvada Fire and Wheat Ridge Police are on scene of an unknown incident at the apartment complex along 51st Place, between Independence and Kipling Street. Officers were seen with long guns deployed as Arvada Fire staff appeared to be fighting a fire in at least one unit.
1:02PM: The Wheat Ridge Police Department is providing an update on the incident. Police were initially called to the Iris Apartments in reference to a male suspect armed with a machete and chasing at least one person in the area of the pool. Prior to being taken into custody, the suspect barricaded himself in an apartment and set a fire. Officers successfully talked the suspect out of the apartment and out a window.
Police are still on scene along with Arvada Fire, as the investigation continues. Per police, one male suspect is in custody and there are no injuries reported.
1:21PM: Police have released the below photo of the weapons being used by the suspect prior to being taken into custody
Update - Tuesday, July 19th
More details are becoming available from yesterday’s incident at the Iris Apartments, located at 9700 W 51st Place. Around 12PM yesterday, officers with Wheat Ridge Police Department (WRPD) were dispatched to the apartment complex in response to a male suspect wearing a bulletproof vest and chasing people while armed with a machete and knife. Officers arrived on scene and confronted the man who dropped the machete but remained armed with the knife. Both weapons are pictured below.
Photo Credit: Wheat Ridge Police Department
The man then fled from officers, running to, and barricading himself in his own apartment on the second floor. The man then proceeded to set a fire inside his residence which prompted a response of multiple fire engines and emergency personnel from Arvada Fire. Two WRPD officers were able to get in verbal contact with the suspect and negotiate with him for approximately 17-minutes. The male suspect eventually discarded the knife by tossing it out the second-floor window and then climbing out himself.
The suspect was taken into custody by the WRPD and then transported to a local hospital for evaluation. This afternoon the suspect has been identified as 34-year-old Michael Eliot Cunningham. Cunningham was booked into the Jefferson County Jail this afternoon and according to jail records, is charged with:
- Attempted First Degree Murder
- First Degree Arson
- Menacing with a Deadly Weapon
Cunningham remains in custody and is scheduled for his first court appearance at 10:00AM tomorrow (7/20/2022).
Update: Friday, July 22nd
The Wheat Ridge Police Department has released the below video which summarizes the terrifying moments as Cunningham chased at least one victim with a machete and then set fire to his apartment.