WARNING: Some visuals in the linked body camera footage may be disturbing to some viewers. Discretion is advised.

(COLORADO SPRINGS) — The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) has released the body-worn camera (BWC) footage from an incident on Dec. 17, 2024 in which a woman was allegedly harassing her ex-boyfriend before she pointed a gun at responding officers and was shot.

According to CSPD’s Significant Event Briefing, officers originally responded just before 3 p.m. on Dec. 17 to a report of a woman ringing the doorbell and excessively knocking on the door of her ex-boyfriend’s home in the 5600 block of Buckskin Pass Drive, near Powers Boulevard and North Carefree Circle. The caller reported that his ex, identified as 43-year-old Kari Anstett, had a warrant out for her arrest.

CSPD said officers were familiar with Anstett, as they had responded to calls for service involving Anstett and her ex-boyfriend before. CSPD also said officers were aware that Anstett was known to carry a gun.

Upon arrival at the home, the first responding officer, identified as Eric Rusch, got out of his patrol car and approached Anstett, who was walking away from the home and behind a truck in the driveway. Officer Rusch asked Anstett to stop so he could talk to her, though the BWC footage shows that she emerged from behind the truck with a gun drawn and can be heard responding “Don’t you dare” to the officer’s request to talk to her.

Anstett can then be seen pointing the gun at another officer who was arriving on the scene, and Officer Rusch can be heard yelling “gun!” before he fires three shots at Anstett, hitting her twice.

Once officers had taken Anstett into custody, they provided medical aid before she was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Officers recovered a Smith and Wesson M&P Bodyguard .38 special revolver from the scene.

Courtesy: Colorado Springs Police Department

Anstett received medical care at the hospital until she was cleared to be booked into the El Paso County Criminal Justice Center. She is facing two counts of First-Degree Assault, Violation of a Protection Order, and other unrelated charges. Officer Rusch is assigned to the Stetson Hills Division of CSPD and has been with the department for five years. He has 11 years of law enforcement experience.

The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office (EPSO) is the lead investigative agency and will send its findings to the 4th Judicial District Attorney’s Office to determine if the officer’s use of force was justified.