Denver Officer Shoots Unarmed Man with Marker: Tragic Mistake or Justified Action?
A Denver police officer shot and killed a man she believed was armed with a knife, only to discover that he was holding a black marker, according to investigators. The incident, which occurred on August 5, has raised questions about whether the officer’s actions were justified or if it was a tragic mistake.
Body-worn camera footage captured the moment when the suspect, identified as 36-year-old Brandon Cole, charged at the officer with the marker raised to chest level. In response, the officer fired her weapon twice, fatally injuring Cole. Thankfully, a woman and a young child who were standing directly behind Cole were unharmed and were not involved in the initial incident that prompted the police response.
Calling it a tremendous tragedy, Chief Ron Thomas acknowledged the gravity of the situation during a news conference. The Denver District Attorney’s Office will now be responsible for determining whether the officer’s actions were legally justified.
The incident unfolded after a neighbor called 911 to report a potential domestic violence situation involving Cole, his wife, and his teenage son. According to the caller, the woman may have been pushed out of her wheelchair, and Cole was allegedly going after his son.
Upon the arrival of the police, the woman was found sitting on the street next to a wheelchair. In the body camera footage, she can be heard pleading with the officers not to use their guns on her husband. Cole then began shouting and was initially subdued with a stun gun when he walked towards one of the officers.
However, investigators believe that only one probe from the stun gun struck Cole, and it did not prevent him from charging at the other officer who ultimately shot and killed him.
Chief Thomas highlighted the challenging circumstances the officer faced, stating, You can see in the video that when she finally deploys her duty weapon, the person is so close to her that the view of the young child and other person are not even clear to her. Certainly, that was a consideration, but there was not much time to act before she was overrun by that individual.
The officer involved in the shooting has been a member of the police department since 2019 and has not been previously involved in any other shootings.
As discussions surrounding this tragic incident continue, it is important to consider different perspectives and maintain a balanced view. While the officer believed she was facing a lethal threat, the fact that the suspect was unarmed raises questions about the necessity of using deadly force. The Denver District Attorney’s Office’s determination of the officer’s legal justification will play a crucial role in determining the ultimate outcome of this case.
This unfortunate incident underscores the complexities and split-second decisions that law enforcement officers often face in high-pressure situations. As the investigation unfolds, the Denver community and the nation as a whole will await further clarity on the circumstances surrounding this incident and seek ways to prevent such tragedies in the future.
