Officer-Involved Shooting By State Patrol Officer Ruled Justified
DENVER (CBS4) - An officer-involved shooting that occurred in a hotel parking lot in early August has been ruled justified by Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey.
The shooting happened at the Ramada Plaza Denver Central located at 48th and Bannock just before 2 p.m. on Aug. 8 when a Colorado State Patrol officer, identified as Sgt. Matthew Beaudin, shot the suspect, who died from his wound.
The suspect was identified as Austin David Uncles.
According to the report released by the district attorney's office, Beaudin was investigating a motorcycle theft just before the shooting.
"Sgt. Beaudin called his dispatcher to report he had found this stolen motorcycle and to request that a tow truck be sent to tow it," the report states. "As Sgt. Beaudin returned his attention to the motorcycle, he saw a white male on the motorcycle, trying to start it."
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Uncles "then abruptly pushed the motorcycle down and began running away." Beaudin reportedly identified himself as a police officer and tackled Uncles. According to the report Beaudin noticed a red Ford Mustang had stopped nearby and Beaudin asked the driver, identified as Kelly Hummel, for help detaining Uncles.
"Uncles freed his arm and pulled a handgun that had been concealed in a holster in his waistband. Uncles rotated so that the muzzle pointed at Sgt. Beaudin but then Uncles directed the muzzle at Mr. Hummel."
Beaudin then fired at Uncles, hitting him in the chest.
"As soon as I came around the corner I saw a red mustang parked in the middle of the road with white stripes and two or three people fighting in the road," said witness Anthony Sisneroz. "They were trying to get the white male down on the ground and I didn't know if I should stop since I didn't want to block traffic, so I pulled slowly by to see why they were fighting to see if I should stop. I looked back and I saw somebody pull something from their hip and all I heard was a 'boom!' "
In Hummel's interview with investigators he said, "If that officer would've not shot, I would not be here."
Before the shooting the motorcycle theft investigation was in the jurisdiction of the Colorado State Patrol, but after the shooting it became a case for the Denver Police Department.
LINK: Read The Decision Letter
