Police: Man Shot, Killed By Police Officer May Have Been Suicidal
AURORA, Colo. (CBS4) – A man shot and killed by a police officer near the University of Colorado Hospital's Anschutz Medical Campus was employed there, officials said Thursday.
Aurora police are investigating the shooting, which took place on Wednesday night. Authorities say an emergency call came in at 7 p.m. that someone who was possibly suicidal was in the parking lot of the complex. Police say when officers with the University of Colorado Denver police located that person he tried to drive away in a car.
Officers then followed the car in what a University of Colorado Hospital spokesman described as a "short chase" to 16th Avenue and North Quentin Street where they stopped the vehicle.
So far it's not clear what took place next, but a CU Denver Police officer ended up firing shots and killing the man.
"The person involved was a current UCH employee who recently resigned and whose last day was to be March 28," said Dan Weaver, University of Colorado Hospital Media Relations Director, in a prepared statement.
Aurora police took over the investigation from the CU Denver police. Aurora police spokesman Sgt. Chris Amsler said anytime there is a suspect who is described as being troubled or possibly dealing with suicidal thoughts officers are trained to take great caution.
"When you have someone who's suicidal we never know how they're going to act or what they're going to do when we contact them, so of course we always take extra precautions when dealing with people who are in crisis or suicidal," Sgt. Chris Amsler said.
Police said there was no threat to the public or the medical campus after the shooting took place.
The identities of the people involved in the incident haven't been released. The officer will be placed on paid administrative leave while an investigation into the shooting takes place.
Amsler said the situation is "very sad."
"Our thoughts are with the person's family and our employees," he wrote.
Additional Resources
The Aurora Police Department released the following information about their investigation.
Anyone who might have witnessed this incident is asked to call Agent Mike Prince at (303) 739-6127 You can also provide information on this case and remain anonymous by calling Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP (7867). You may also text your tip to 274637 (CRIMES) then use the title DMCS and enter your message. You may be eligible to earn a reward of up to two thousand dollars ($2,000).
