Protesters Call For Justice After Deadly Shooting During Eviction
DENVER (CBS4)- A homeowner who died in a gun battle with Park County Sheriff's deputies was the subject of a rally calling for justice.
Protesters gathered outside the Webb Building in downtown Denver to call for justice for Martin Wirth who died when deputies tried to evict him from his Bailey home Feb. 24.
"The sheriff drove to Martin Wirth's property knowing this was a high risk eviction, knowing that he had had an altercation with the police in the months prior and was upset," said Darren O'Connor with the Colorado Foreclosure Resistance Coalition.
Park County Cpl. Nate Carrigan was also killed in the gun fight. Park County Undersheriff Monte Gore resigned his position with the sheriff's office after the deadly shooting.
Wirth had made statements threatening law enforcement and had been in contact with the Colorado Foreclosure Resistance Coalition and Occupy Colorado.
"They drove to his house, brought heavy weapons and engaged him," said O'Connor. "They could have made a phone call, they could have organized this peacefully."
The district attorney and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation are investigating the circumstances of the shootings.
CBS4's Rick Sallinger is a Peabody award winning reporter who has been with the station more than two decades doing hard news and investigative reporting. Follow him on Twitter @ricksallinger.
