A man shot and killed by Denver police on Monday afternoon was allegedly chasing people through Commons Park with a gun before he was confronted by officers and opened fire on them.
Denver Police Department officers responded to reports of a man armed with a long gun in Commons Park who was chasing people around and yelling at them at approximately 3:40 p.m., Chief Ron Thomas said at a news conference Monday evening. The park is near the intersection of 16th and Platte streets.
Officers commanded the man to drop the rifle, but he began firing at officers, who returned fire, Thomas said. No officers were injured, though a bullet struck a police vehicle that an officer was using for cover.
“Unfortunately instead of disarming, he chose to shoot at the officers, which prompted our officers to protect themselves and protect the rest of the community by returning fire,” Thomas said.
Police called for an ambulance, and the man was declared dead at the scene, Thomas said. The man’s identity has not been released.
Two officers fired their weapons during the shooting, Thomas said. Investigators do not believe the man fired his gun at any of the people he was chasing and are interviewing witnesses to find out what the man was yelling.
The shooting will be investigated by the department, Colorado State Patrol and Colorado Bureau of Investigation, and findings will be reviewed by the district attorney, Thomas said.
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