Deputy's Gun-Jamming Shot Was 'One In A Billion'
AURORA, Colo. (CBS4) - A deputy is said to have fired a "one in a billion" shot at two men who were attacking him earlier this year.
That's according to the investigators of a shooting incident that happened in January at an apartment complex in Aurora.
Jefferson County Deputy Jose Marquez was off duty and visiting his girlfriend in Aurora when two masked men attacked. They fired, hitting him once in the shoulder and once in the stomach, but he survived.
Marquez was able to fire back and hit one man. He also fired a shot that went directly down the barrel of the gunman's firearm and into its chamber, jamming it.
Retired Denver police officer and firearms instructor Robert Rathburn told CBS4 a shot that moves from one gun into the barrel of another rarely happens. He said Marquez must have been well trained in firearms to have been able to accomplish it.
"It's that focus. The officer was in fear of his life, and that's where his rounds went, to stop that threat," said Rathburn said.
Marquez told investigators after being hit he thought "I'm not dying today. Not today ..." and "You're the bad guy. I'm the good guy."
The Jefferson County DA's office has cleared Marquez of any wrongdoing in the case. They say his actions were done in self defense.
Officers arrested one person in the case. That suspect is awaiting trial.
Rathburn says Marquez's shot will be key evidence in court proceedings.
"How do you dispute that the gun wasn't pointed at the officer?" Rathburn said.
The other suspect in the case has yet to be captured.
