On Monday, five Denver police officers and one Aurora police officer fatally shot a man they said was armed in Aurora and who they suspected of a carjacking in Denver.
Aurora police spokesperson Crystal McCoy said on Monday the shooting happened at 35th Place and Abeline Street in northeast Aurora.
McCoy said Denver police responded to a carjacking near 48th Avenue and Chambers Road at about 11 a.m. McCoy said the man kidnapped the vehicle's owner. Denver police followed the stolen vehicle into the area of 35th and Abeline, following the vehicle "at a safe distance." Aurora's police were requested after Denver police reached this area.
McCoy said the man, who was masked, got out of the vehicle as he was followed by the Denver and Aurora police. Denver Division Chief of Patrol Ron Thomas said the man was given verbal warnings to drop his firearm after he got out of his vehicle. Thomas said the man threatened police officers with the firearm, prompting officers to shoot him.
McCoy described the man as either a white or light-skinned Hispanic male. He was pronounced dead at the scene. He was not identified on Monday.
The case will be investigated by the Adams County District Attorney. Thomas said Denver's Office of the Independent Monitor will be following the incident's investigation.
McCoy said officers turned on their body-worn cameras during the incident. Thomas said both Denver and Aurora police will be involved in the investigation.
All officers involve in the shooting are on administrative leave, following department policies.
This is the fifth fatal shooting incident by Denver police this year. It's the second time this year Denver police were involved in a fatal shooting in Aurora, after an incident in January.
Over the last few weeks, protests against racism and police violence have taken place in Denver, including one last week that called for the arrest of the officer who fatally shot William DeBose. The Denver District Attorney's Office said it would not be pressing charges against that officer, calling the deadly use of force justified.
