DeWeese OIS
We are required to release the body worn camera footage to the public in reference to the officer involoved shooting that occured on April 6, 2022, due to the following statute:
C.R.S. § 24-31-902(2)(a) For all incidents in which there is a complaint of peace officer misconduct by another peace officer, a civilian, or nonprofit organization, through notice to the law enforcement agency involved in the alleged misconduct, the local law enforcement agency or the Colorado state patrol shall release, upon request, all unedited video and audio recordings of the incident, including those from body-worn cameras, dash cameras, or otherwise collected through investigation, to the public within twenty-one days after the local law enforcement agency or the Colorado state patrol received the request for release of the video or audio recordings.
These videos are in raw, un-redacted form, per statute. The images and sounds depicted here may be difficult for some viewers. VIEWER DISCRETION IS ADVISED.
Colorado Springs Police Department Media Release
On April 11, 2022, at approximately 11:00 PM Manitou Springs Police Department Officers and El Paso County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a business in the 900 block of Manitou Avenue due to a report of a person menacing others with a firearm. A short time later, officers and deputies contacted the suspect from that report. During that contact, the suspect fired at least one round at law enforcement personnel. As a result, at least one Manitou Springs Police Officer and at least one El Paso County Sheriff Deputy fired their duty weapon at least one time, striking the suspect. Officers and deputies immediately started life-saving measures until medical personnel arrived, however, the suspect died on the scene.
An El Paso County Sheriff’s K9 was shot and killed during this incident. The K9’s handler was not injured; no other deputies or officers were injured in this incident.
The involved officers and deputies have been placed on administrative leave per their department policies.
Per Colorado Revised Statute 16-2.5-301, the Colorado Springs Police Department is the lead investigative agency for this officer-involved shooting. This is an ongoing investigation and information will be released as appropriate. All information regarding the deadly force investigation will come from the Colorado Springs Police Department. Information regarding the law enforcement officers and deputies involved in this incident will come from their respective agencies.