By Pamela Dickman Loveland Reporter-Herald
Authorities still have not released any information on who they believe shot and killed Jeffrey Lynn Buckley in his home west of Loveland on Sunday.
Larimer County Sheriff Justin Smith said Friday, nearly a week after the shooting, that his office is withholding all details about the shooting to protect the investigation. He believes releasing information now, before facts are confirmed, could affect the result of the investigation and lead to the release of inaccurate information.
"I'm concerned that making statements now would come back to bite us," said Smith, who took elected office a year ago after former Sheriff Jim Alderden was term limited.
"I would put it back to Balloon Boy and how much trouble Jim (Alderden) got himself into by saying things before we knew what was accurate."
This shooting, he said, is complex and, therefore, the investigation is taking longer than many and more time than he had hoped before information can be made public. Smith hopes to release details by mid to late next week.
The Reporter-Herald requested any reports and copies of the 911 call made Sunday night to report the shooting, but has been denied access because the documents are considered part of the official investigation.
Open records attorney Steve Zansberg, based out of Denver, confirmed that state law allows sheriffs or police chiefs to withhold records for that reason while the investigation is underway. The only information that must be released, he said, is if there was an arrest.
Sheriff's authorities confirm that no one has been arrested in this case.
Buckley was shot in his home late Sunday and rushed to Medical Center of the Rockies, where he died at 11:24 p.m. His death, from a gunshot wound to the upper abdomen, was ruled a homicide by the Larimer County Coroner.
While authorities said there does not appear to be a public danger, they have released no other information about why, who they believe shot Buckley or the circumstances of his death.
Smith said he does not plan to withhold this much information in every big investigation, but that this case is unusual. He stressed that he will answer questions and stand accountable to the public as soon as possible without hurting the investigation.
"Our first obligation is to objectively find the facts," Smith said. "That's our first priority ...
"When we are able to make a statement, we know it will be based on facts."
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