Update: Suspect ID'd in Fatal Cortez Police Officer Shooting

Thursday, November 30, 2023 at 12:48 PM

Cortez Police Officer Michael Moran was fatally wounded during a traffic stop Wednesday, November 29, 2023. During an exchange of gunfire with other members of law enforcement at a subsequent location, one suspect was killed and the second suspect was taken into custody.

From the Montezuma County Sheriff's Office

Update: Saturday, December 2, 2023

The Colorado Bureau of Investigation has released the following information in regards to the ongoing investigation into the death of Cortez Police Department Sergeant Michael Moran.

• Montezuma County Coroner George Deavers named the suspect in the incident as Jason Campbell, age 44, of Ogden, Utah.

• There is no one in custody connected to this incident at this time. A subject was inside of the suspect's vehicle at the time of the incident. The subject was interviewed and has been released.

• Investigators continue to conduct interviews and work to determine the elements and timeline of the incident.

No additional information about the investigation is available at this time.

Wednesday, November 29, 2023

At approximately 11:25 am, a Cortez Police Department officer initiated a traffic stop on South Broadway. Shots were fired at the officer who was subsequently injured. The suspects fled in their vehicle and were quickly located in the 7500 block of Hwy 160-491.

Additional shots were exchanged between the suspects and officers at the second location. One suspect died on scene and the other was taken into custody.

The injured Cortez Police Officer was transported to Southwest Memorial Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.

(Editor's Note: The Cortez Police Officer who was killed has been identified as Sgt. Michael Moran. Moran rose quickly through the ranks, becoming a K-9 handler in 2016. He leaves behind two daughters, many friends, and family.)

Flags in the area have been lowered to half-staff in support of the Cortez Police Department.

If anyone has further information about this pending investigation, they are asked to contact the Cortez Police Department and the Montezuma County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch at 970-565-8441.

The Colorado Fallen Hero Foundation is accepting monetary donations on behalf of Sergeant Moran’s family. If you would like to donate, visit https://cofallenhero.org/donate

More from Local News

New Farmington Temple Prepares for Public Open House

The public is invited to tour the Farmington Temple from Thursday, July 17, through Saturday, August 2, 2025, excluding Sundays.
SJRMC & San Juan College agree to expand Nursing Program

Full-time nursing faculty members will receive a $10,000 annual stipend on top of their base salary to enhance the program’s capacity. In addition, students will have an opportunity to enter into an agreement with SJRMC to receive a substantial $4,800 living stipend per semester,
Downtown Farmington gets National Main Street Accreditation

Historic Downtown Farmington’s performance was evaluated through assessments conducted by the organization’s personnel and board of directors, and New Mexico MainStreet, which works in partnership with Main Street America to identify local programs that meet rigorous national community evaluation standards.
Man Arrested for Fruitland Murder

Following verbal arguments at the house of Adrian Begay (age 45), De Andre Julian (age 23) left with his girlfriend, Adrian Begay’s daughter, Adriana Begay (age 21) to a nearby residence. Adrian Begay followed them to the exterior of the residence when De Andre Julian produced a handgun and shot Adrian Begay multiple times in the chest at close range.
Arrest Made in Farmington Killing

After a lengthy investigation, Ms. Greenfield’s death was determined to be a homicide and detectives identified 27-year-old Serrono Rippingale as the suspect. On June 26th, 2025, an arrest warrant for Murder (2nd degree felony) and Tampering with Evidence (3rd degree felony) was obtained and served on Serrono Rippingale.
Farmington Hires New Museum Director

“Nathan’s expertise in the museum industry, combined with his global perspective and passion for community engagement, make him a tremendous asset to Farmington,” said Christa Chapman, Director of Cultural Affairs. “We’re excited to see how his leadership will shape the future of the Farmington Museum System.”