The Denver Channel
ADAMS COUNTY, Colo. — Prosecutors have filed charges of attempted first-degree murder and assault against 20-year-old Jahvell Daquan Forrest in the shooting of a patrol officer during a traffic stop last week.
The charges allege that Forrest shot at Aurora Police Officer Ryan Burns and Officer Dale Leonard on Nov. 14 and during a traffic stop of a stolen vehicle in the 1700 block of Fulton Street in Aurora, according to a news release from 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.
Burns was shot in the leg and suffered serious injuries. The bullet hit an artery and he was bleeding profusely.
Forrest is charged with six counts of attempted first-degree murder including two counts of attempted first-degree murder of a peace officer, two counts of attempted first-degree murder after deliberation and two counts of attempted first-degree murder with extreme indifference.
He also is charged with two counts of first-degree assault, two counts of first-degree attempted assault and one count of first-degree aggravated motor vehicle theft. Forrest is also charged with two counts of committing a crime of violence, which is a sentencing enhancer.
Forrest was advised of the charges in Adams County Court on Monday. He is being held on $1 million bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for Jan. 8.
Forrest was taken into custody around 8:30 p.m. on Nov. 18 and made his first court appearance the following day, according to Interim Chief of Police Terry Jones.
Jones said Forrest was cooperative at the time of his arrest.
Jones said the arrest was made based on “down-and-dirty police work.”
“We are absolutely certain we have the gunman,” Jones said.
Sources told 7NEWS that police received a tip over the weekend that led them down the path to find Forrest. The sources also said that his family played a role in getting him in custody.
In less than two years, Forrest has compiled a four-page adult arrest history in Colorado. His prior arrests include carrying a concealed weapon, receiving stolen property, burglary, theft, harassment, disturbing the peace, trespassing, marijuana possession and driving with a suspected license.
In his current arrest, he’s being held on investigation of first-degree attempted homicide of a peace officer involving a gun, attempted first-degree murder involving a gun, first-degree assault on a police officer, theft, possession of burglary tools, and second-degree burglary involving forced entry of a residence. He’s also being held on several fugitive warrants, including a Greenwood Village case where he’s charged with eight counts of felony identity theft.
7NEWS obtained the arrest warrant in the Greenwood Village case. It reveals he was the suspect in a break-in at Cherry Creek High School in September. During a football game, he’s accused of breaking into lockers in the west building and then using credit cards to buy jewelry, prescription drugs and food.
The wounded officer, Burns, is an 11-year veteran of the department. He continues to recover from his injuries in the hospital, police said.
“He is in good condition but will remain in the hospital for several more days,” Aurora police spokesman Officer Frank Fania said in a Tuesday news release.
The shooting happened just after 9 p.m. on Nov. 14 as two officers in a patrol car pulled over a vehicle in a residential area at Fulton Street at East 17th Avenue.
“As the officers were walking up to the suspect’s car to make contact with the driver, the suspect fired several shots out of the driver’s side window, striking one of the officers,” Fania said.
“He was immediately hit,” Jones said.
The other officer returned fire as the suspect drove away, then he applied a tourniquet to Burns’ leg to stop the bleeding, said Jones. The chief said the fast first aid by Burns’ partner saved him from greater harm.
The shooter was in a stolen car, which was found abandoned about two blocks away in the 1900 block of Fulton Street.
Jones said the suspect was in the area looking for a vehicle to steal. The vehicle that was stolen was a “puffer” -- a vehicle left running unattended.
Reprinted with permission from The Denver Channel.