(COLORADO SPRINGS) — The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) reported an Officer Involved Shooting (OIS) leading to the death of an armed suspect that occurred around 11 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 13, on Astrozon Boulevard, near South Academy Boulevard.
According to CSPD, on Friday, around 9:40 p.m., the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office (EPSO) received a call from a man who reported that he was outside his home with a firearm and was suicidal. When deputies arrived at the location on the 400 block of Eudora Street, near Mesa Ridge Parkway and CanAm Highway in Fountain, he was no longer on the scene and deputies could not find him in the area.
EPSO issued a “Be on the Lookout” (BOLO) alert to law enforcement agencies in the area.
Around 11 p.m., CSPD received reports of a shots fired call in a parking lot near the 3800 block of Astrozon. CSPD said that when officers arrived, they found a man in a vehicle who was armed with a handgun and was seen waving it around.
Officers called out to the man, trying to de-escalate the situation, negotiating with the man for almost an hour, but he refused to comply with the officers’ demands to drop the weapon, said CSPD. At that time, he allegedly “fired multiple rounds in the area.” At least one officer attempted to minimize injury to the man by using a less lethal tool but was unsuccessful.
According to CSPD, the man raised his gun toward police and several officers fired at the suspect and hit him. Officers provided immediate medical aid, but he was pronounced dead on the scene.
CSPD said that no officers or other members of the community were injured. According to policy, the CSPD officers involved have been placed on administrative leave. An EPSO deputy was on scene but was not involved in the shooting, and EPSO is leading the investigation into the incident.
If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. The 988 suicide and crisis lifeline can be reached 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by phone, chat or text. Call or text 988 or chat 988lifeline.org.
