DENVER — A felony menacing suspect is in critical condition after they were shot by police in Denver's Elyria Swansea neighborhood Thursday afternoon.
Around 2:30 p.m., officers responded to reports of a man who was threatening people with a handgun in the area of 45th Avenue and St. Paul Street, according to Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas. The man had walked away before officers arrived.
Officers spotted the man roughly 20 minutes later in the area of 47th Avenue and York Street. Thomas said the officers ordered the man to stop, but he did not comply.
According to Thomas, the man pulled a weapon from his bag, and "multiple" officers fired their weapons until he fell to the ground.
The officers performed lifesaving measures, including applying a tourniquet to the man, until medics arrived. He was taken to the hospital in critical condition but is expected to survive, Thomas said.
Watch: #DPD Chief Ron Thomas provides an initial briefing regarding the officer-involved shooting that occurred at E 46th Ave/ N York St. https://t.co/Mynz3paye2
— Denver Police Dept. (@DenverPolice) October 19, 2023
The police chief said investigators found an airsoft pistol that looks like a semi-automatic handgun during their initial search of the crime scene. Officers also contacted people who were threatened by the man, and there are pending charges for felony menacing, according to Thomas.
It is unclear at this time how many officers fired their weapons or how many shots were fired.
An investigation into the police shooting is being conducted by the Denver Police Department's Homicide Division, Colorado State Patrol and Colorado Bureau of Investigation. It will be overseen by the Office of the Independent Monitor.
After the investigation is complete, the findings will be reviewed by the Denver District Attorney's Office.
This is a developing story and will be updated.
