All Pueblo police officers wounded in March 18 shooting officially home from hospital

The final Pueblo police officer who remained hospitalized after being severely wounded in a March 18 shooting is officially home.

Pueblo police held an honor escort for the three officers injured in the shooting and a welcome-home procession for the final officer discharged on April 12 along Main Street.

"We are extremely grateful the remaining hospitalized officer that was injured in the March 18 shooting has been released to join our other officers to continue their recovery," said Pueblo Police Chief Chris Noeller.

The three officers were shot in an "ambush" by suspect Billy Soto, whom police say fired over 80 rounds from an AR-15 and gravely wounded three officers before he was killed by return fire.

The first officer was struck while sitting in his car, according to a letter from the Colorado Association of Chiefs of Police sent to Gov. Jared Polis and other state leaders in the Colorado Legislature, and two additional officers were also "critically injured."

Pueblo police spokesperson Bianca Hicks previously told the Chieftain it was "by the grace of God" the officers survived their injuries. She said that if the trajectory of the gunshots had been a little bit to either side, "we would be having a different conversation."

The shooting is still being investigated by the 10th Judicial Critical Incident Response Team, with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation acting as the lead investigative agency.

More in public safety news: Pueblo Fire Department says large brush fire near Lake Minnequa fully contained

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This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Honor escort pays tribute to Pueblo PD officers wounded in shooting