DENVER — The Denver Police Department has released body camera footage from a fatal officer-involved shooting of a man who brandished a replica handgun at officers, KDVR reported.
The March 20 incident began when officers responded to a 911 call reporting a man camping behind a Catholic school, according to the report. The caller noted the man had a knife and may have been armed with a firearm.
Body camera footage shows officers removing cardboard boxes to reveal the man, who was holding a replica firearm, video shows. Officers attempted to de-escalate the situation over the course of about 80 seconds, repeatedly asking the man to drop the weapon.
According to Major Crimes Division Commander Matt Clark, the man suddenly raised the replica firearm toward officers, prompting four officers to fire 16 rounds.
Footage shows officers disarming and handcuffing the man after the shooting. Officers then rendered medical aid, applying a chest seal and tourniquet. The man was transported to the hospital, where he later died from his injuries, according to the report.
Investigators recovered a black replica firearm marked with Smith & Wesson branding. Preliminary findings show one officer’s round struck the replica, causing the slide to break apart, according to the report.
“Unfortunate situation, you know, no officer wants to take a life,” Chief Ron Thomas said. “I think that you could see the effort that they went through to make sure that he complied, dropped that weapon. It was their desire to safely in that situation. And, you know, they only responded with ultimately deadly force because he moved that weapon in their direction and put them in fear of their life.”
