COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The Colorado Springs Police Department released body-worn camera footage of a fatal officer-involved shooting of a man who ran toward a bystander while carrying a gun, FOX 21 News reported.
The March 31 incident began when officers responded to a parking lot after a 911 caller reported a man breaking into vehicles. The caller told dispatchers the suspect had pointed a gun at him when confronted.
When officers arrived, they found the suspect sitting in a vehicle with the driver’s side door open. According to CSPD, the suspect refused multiple commands to show his hands and exit the car.
As officers attempted to de-escalate the situation, a bystander in a vehicle parked nearby, placing an uninvolved person in close proximity to the scene. The suspect eventually exited the car and began arguing with officers before running between parked vehicles toward the bystander, video shows.
An officer can be heard in the footage warning others that the man was armed. Fearing for the bystander’s safety, an officer fired three times, striking the suspect. A loaded 9mm handgun was recovered at the scene, according to the report.
The suspect was taken into custody and given medical aid but later died from his injuries. The officer, a member of the Gold Hill Division, has been with the department for nearly four years.
The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office is leading the investigation. Once complete, the findings will be forwarded to the 4th Judicial District Attorney’s Office for review.
