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DA: Officers Justified In Deadly Shooting

DENVER (CBS4)- Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey said that officers were justified in a shooting that left a suspect dead and an officer wounded.

The DA said the investigation revealed that officers opened fire after Philip Munoz pointed a gun at them during the chase in December of last year.

During the shooting, a SWAT officer was injured from friendly fire.

Officer-Involved Shooting
The scene Wednesday afternoon (credit: CBS)

"The officer that was injured was shot while trying to stop his advancement into the neighborhood where he could take hostages or whatever. Fortunately he got a little bit ahead of him, he got himself in the crossfire which he knew better than to do that, we're still reviewing that," said Denver Police Special Operations Cmdr. Patrick Phelan.

Phillip Munoz
Phillip Munoz (credit: Colorado Department of Corrections)

The officer was shot in the leg and has since returned to duty.

Investigators say Munoz's gun was not loaded.

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