DENVER — Officers shot and killed a woman who was holding a large, hunting-style knife at an intersection in downtown Denver on Sunday, police said.
Officers used a Taser on the woman twice but she began advancing toward them as they tried to back up from her, Denver police Chief Ron Thomas said a press conference near the scene. Three officers fired at her, he said.
The shooting will be investigated and the results will be sent to prosecutors to decide if the shooting was lawful, he said.
“My belief is that the officers perceived a significant threat and responded to that threat,” Thomas said.
The woman’s age and name were not immediately known.
The shooting happened in an area near Coors Field around noon.
Denver Police Chief Paul Pazen confirmed on Monday that a woman was fatally shot by officers after she was seen holding a large knife at an intersection in the city. The incident occurred on Sunday evening near the intersection of Colfax Avenue and Broadway.
According to Chief Pazen, officers responded to a call about a woman who was reportedly armed with a knife and acting erratically. When they arrived at the scene, they found the woman holding a large knife and refusing to drop it despite repeated commands from the officers.
In a statement released by the Denver Police Department, Chief Pazen stated that the officers tried to de-escalate the situation by talking to the woman and attempting to get her to drop the knife. However, the woman continued to advance towards the officers with the knife in hand, prompting them to use lethal force.
The woman was shot by the officers and was pronounced dead at the scene. The officers involved in the shooting have been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation into the incident, which is standard procedure in cases of officer-involved shootings.
Chief Pazen emphasized that the use of lethal force is always a last resort for law enforcement officers and that they are trained to use other tactics to resolve situations peacefully whenever possible. He also expressed condolences to the family and friends of the woman who was killed in the incident.
The shooting has sparked debate and controversy in the community, with some questioning whether the officers could have used non-lethal methods to subdue the woman. The incident is currently under investigation by the Denver Police Department’s Internal Affairs Bureau, as well as the Denver District Attorney’s Office.
This tragic event serves as a reminder of the difficult and dangerous situations that law enforcement officers face on a daily basis. It also highlights the importance of proper training and protocols for handling potentially volatile situations in order to minimize the risk of harm to both officers and civilians.
As more details emerge from the investigation, it is crucial for the community to remain calm and allow the authorities to conduct a thorough and impartial review of the incident. In the meantime, our thoughts are with the family of the woman who lost her life in this tragic event.
