Denver police introduced throughout a briefing Thursday {that a} man raised a “duplicate firearm” earlier than he was fatally shot by officers final month.
Chief Ron Thomas stated shortly after the March 20 taking pictures in an alley close to thirty fifth Avenue and Humboldt Avenue in Denver’s Cole neighborhood that the person, who was homeless, was armed with a handgun.
He has since been recognized as Jose Medina, 57, by the Denver Office of the Medical Examiner.
A picture of the merchandise — which Main Crimes Bureau Commander Matt Clark stated bore Smith & Wesson markings and was broken by one of many 16 bullets fired by 4 officers — was proven on a tv display screen through the briefing.
Police additionally launched body-worn-camera video of the taking pictures Thursday that exhibits officers confronting Medina, who had reportedly been tenting behind Annunciation Catholic College.
Within the movies, officers repeatedly tell Medina to drop the weapon, which they determine as a firearm. When Medina instead lifts his right arm, which held the duplicate gun, officers open hearth, hanging Medina a number of instances.
Officers then transfer in and handcuff Medina, as one officer presses his handgun into the again of Medina’s head, which Thomas informed reporters was “not protocol” however was supposed as a “de-escalation method.”
Clark stated officers offered emergency medical care to Medina, making use of a chest seal and tourniquet, earlier than he was taken to a hospital, the place he died later that day.
Thomas stated officers had made contact with Medina periodically since 2005, and he was believed to have been homeless on and off since then.
“No officer desires to take a life,” Thomas stated. “They solely responded with, in the end, lethal pressure as a result of he moved that weapon of their course and put them in worry of their life.”
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