By O’Dell Isaac
The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — Colorado Springs police on Sunday released additional details about an officer-involved shooting that killed an armed suspect on July 5.
In a “significant event briefing” video, police officials provided a timeline of the incident, including audio of the initial 911 call, security footage from surrounding areas and body-worn cameras from the involved officers.
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Just before 1:30 a.m. on July 5, police received a call about a man who was carrying a rifle and yelling at people outside The Mansion nightclub on Tejon Street in downtown Colorado Springs.
Officers at the Real Time Crime Center started checking live feeds from cameras in the area and did not find anyone with a rifle, but did see a group of people who appeared to be arguing.
At 1:34 a.m. , officers approached the people in the parking lot and asked if anyone was carrying a gun. Witnesses and bystanders told police that it was just an argument that got out of hand, and that no one was carrying a weapon.
The group appeared to disperse, but officers monitoring the security cameras saw the group reassemble and continue arguing. A different officer told the group to break it up and leave the area.
Reviewing recorded video from before the 911 call, officers at the Real Time Crime Center saw a man fitting in the description from the initial caller — and who had been part of the crowd that was arguing — carrying what appeared to be a rifle.
The group returned to the parking lot again at about 1:40 a.m. and the argument appeared to resume. In the security video, a man in a white T-shirt, wearing an orange hat, can be seen going into a vehicle and retrieving a handgun.
The crime center alerted nearby officers that the man had a gun. The officers returned to the parking lot and commanded the man to put his hands up. The suspect briefly complied before running. CSPD officials said the man appeared to be reaching for his waistband, where he had previously concealed a gun.
One officer can be heard yelling, “Stop running! He’s got a gun!” before firing three times, hitting the suspect at least once.
Body-worn camera footage shows officers rendering medical aid to the wounded suspect and recovering a gun from his clothing. The suspect, identified as Alex Martinez-Sarmiento, 26, was pronounced dead at the scene.
In addition to the pistol in the Martinez-Sarmiento’s waistband, officers found a second loaded pistol in his vehicle. That handgun, a loaded Glock 43, had part of the serial number removed. The rifle he was reportedly carrying has not been found, officials said.
Police said Martinez-Sarmiento was on parole at the time of the incident and not legally allowed to possess a firearm.
In accordance with Colorado law, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the shooting. When that investigation is concluded, the results will be sent to the 4th Judicial District Attorney’s Office for a determination on whether the shooting was justified.
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