We have new details today from the Denver Police Department about why an officer shot a juvenile in the leg on Tuesday, August 16.
The incident began when an undercover officer spotted a gold Volvo S60 in west Denver. The vehicle matched the description of one reported stolen two days earlier by multiple armed people in Arapahoe County.
A few minutes later, a different police officer (this one in uniform) spotted the vehicle in the parking lot of the Denver Community Credit Union at 12th Avenue and Federal Boulevard.
That second officer drew his gun and began "verbally challenging" the three people inside the Volvo, according to Lt. Matthew Clark. All three people exited the car simultaneously, including the driver, who was holding a black handgun.
The officer chased the suspects and fired multiple times on the armed suspect, hitting him in the leg. The gun was found to have been stolen, and a second handgun was found in the backseat of the car. It's not clear yet whether the officer felt threatened, whether the suspect had raised the gun, or what other reason the officer may have had to fire.
The two other juveniles were caught within 10 minutes, Clark said.
All three had numerous arrest warrants out, but they haven't yet been charged in the theft of the car. The one who was shot faces a charge of felony menacing related to the gun.
Police have not identified the suspects or the officers involved. The officer who fired the weapon is a 10-year veteran of the department, and will be on administrative leave while the shooting is investigated. Police ask any witnesses to come forward.
