Body-Cam Footage Released In Denver Police Shooting

DENVER, CO – Denver Police released the body-cam footage of three officers who fired 48 shots in a March mistaken-identity shooting that killed one man and seriously injured another.

The Denver District Attorney’s Office completed its review of the incident and announced that they have declined to file criminal charges against officers William Bohm, Austin Barela and Susan Mercado in the March 19 incident in the 4100 block of Albion Street. Barela fired his weapon 34 times, Bohm fired his weapon 12 times, and Mercado fired her weapon 2 times, the DA's investigation found.

After a high-speed chase from Aurora into Denver, officers shot and killed Steven Nguyen, 23 and seriously injured passenger, Rafael Landeros, 23.

The DA's office announced Tuesday that District Attorney Beth McCann concluded that the shooting was legally justified.

Officers were searching for escaped Denver jail inmate Venzor-Gonzalez, who was wanted for attempted murder and had staked out a house near East 19th Avenue and North Boston Street in Aurora they believed was the home of the girlfriend of the alleged escapee. Around 6:30 p.m., officers saw a GMC Acadia SUV circling the block and incorrectly believed the man in the passenger seat was Venzor-Gonzalez.

The chase ended in the 4100 block of Albion Street in Denver. Police said the two men in the car disobeyed police orders to "show their hands" and were "moving around looking for something," in the car.

According to the DA's review, Officer Barela saw the passenger door open a small crack and he believed the passenger to be Venzor-Gonzalez had just thrown a handgun out of the window and was now reaching around the vehicle. Barela believed that the passenger was going to get out and shoot at him. Barela began firing his handgun at the passenger side of the vehicle.

Officer Bohrn believed Barela was being fired upon, so he started shooting his handgun, the DA's letter said. Officer Mercado arrived later at the scene and as she was exiting her vehicle, she "saw the suspect vehicle moving down into the drainage ditch and believed that the driver was continuing to flee, so she too fired her weapon," the DA's office said

The three officers who fired on the two men were District 2 patrol officers who had worked for the department between four and ten years.

Venzor-Gonzalez remained on the run for months until he was finally captured in Thornton on Aug. 24.

Denver Police Chief Paul Pazen said he was releasing the video because it's release would "help clarify the events described in the District Attorney’s letter." Denver Police said the public interest arising from the release of the District Attorney’s letter will "best be satisfied by release of the video."

McCann's letter said that her finding did not rule out the possibility that the officers violated department policy. She also said that the letter was not meant to rule on whether the officers would be cleared under civil actions.

The video was lightly edited to cut off after the event "so as not to identify unmarked police vehicles or undercover police officers," DPD said. There have been "no other modifications" to the three video segments.

Meanwhile, the District Attorney's office announced that McCann will host a community meeting to discuss the legal analysis and conclusion reached. The public meeting will be held on Thursday, November 8, from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m., in Multiple Purpose Room A, Central Park Recreation Center, 9651 E. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard.

Related: Man Accused Of Escaping Police Custody Due In Denver Court

Related: Denver Escaped Inmate: Reward Rises To $10,000

Related: Denver Police Shoot 2 After High Speed Chase From Aurora

Related: Escaped Denver Inmate: Police Search Near Hospital

Image: Body cam screen shot from the camera of Officer Susan Mercado via Denver District Attorney's report.

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