Watch CBS News

Dozens Protest Shooting Of Teen Girl In Park Hill

DENVER (CBS4) - Anger and frustration filled the streets Monday night after Denver police shot and killed a teenage girl.

Nearly 100 people gathered in protest less than a block away from where police say the girl used a stolen car to run down a cop, then was fatally shot.

Shooting (2)
(credit: CBS)

"We're mad and we want to know what happened here," said one protester.

"There's no justification for murder," stated another.

It happened at about 6:30 a.m. on Monday when two Denver police officers responded to an alley near East 25th Avenue and Newport Street, where a stolen vehicle was spotted.

Authorities say the officers approached the car and the driver used the car to hit one of them in the leg.

"At that time, the officers fired several shots, striking the driver," explained Chief Robert White.

Jessie Hernandez
Jessie Hernandez (credit: CBS)

That driver was 16-year-old Jessie Hernandez. Her friends are angered by her violent death.

"She was a young girl. This should have been handled completely differently," said Destiny Moya.

"She made a bad choice, but to shoot at the head ... there were people in the car. At least the cops could've shot the tires to let the vehicle stop, but instead she got her life taken away," said Cynthia Valdez.

Newport shooting protests2
(credit: CBS)

Police say four other teens were in the car at the time of the shooting, but they were not hurt.

Now an investigation is underway to determine exactly what happened.

"I think the facts will hopefully show that the officers were correct. If not, we'll certainly address that," said White.

The officer who was hit has a leg fracture, but is expected to be okay. As is standard procedure, both officers are on paid administrative leave.

Shooting (4)
(credit: CBS)
Shooting (1)
(credit: CBS)
Shooting (3)
(credit: CBS)
View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.