By Police1 Staff
DENVER — Police released body camera video of an August 16 officer-involved shooting of a carjacking suspect.
Cpl. Jeffrey Heinis arrived on the scene and used his vehicle to block the stolen car in a parking space, the Denver Post reported. Heinis was shouting commands at the three suspects when the 17-year-old driver, known as “LAJ,” exited the vehicle and ran, armed with a semi-automatic handgun, officials said.
Heinis said he was afraid the suspect would carjack a different vehicle or run into a local neighborhood.
Prosecutors announced Monday that Cpl. Heinis would not face charges in the shooting.
Police Chief Robert White said Heinis had no other choice but to use physical force to prevent the escape and further violence.
“In this factual setting there was no other option available for Corporal Heinis to successfully prevent LAJ’s escape and to arrest him,” Denver DA Mitchell Morrissey wrote in a letter. “The only other option was for Heinis to use no physical force, to let LAJ escape, and to hope he would be apprehended later without having caused harm to anyone.”
The shots broke the suspect’s ankle bone, according to the publication.