Deputies Not At-Fault In Fatal Shooting After Pursuit: DA

DOUGLAS COUNTY, CO – A report from investigators at the 18th Judicial District Attorney's Office determined that Douglas County sheriff's deputies were not at-fault in the shooting death of one man and the injury of another after an early morning high speed chase last year.

Around 3 a.m. on Nov. 26, 2018 deputies tried to stop a stolen Jeep Grand Cherokee near C470 and Broadway. The resulting high-speed pursuit ended up at East Dry Creek Road and the ramp from I-25, where investigators determined that a passenger in the car fired shots at deputies.

Five deputies fired their weapons at the car, killing driver Nicholas Ryan, 20, of Aurora, and injuring Jason Bradley Sutton, 21, of Golden. A third passenger, Pierce Elliot Langewisch, 20, was determined to be the passenger who shot at deputies. He is charged with attempted murder.

The report from the DA's office said that the five deputies, Nicholas Arnone, Anthony Weiss, Joshua Anderson, Justin Ruisi and Blake Davis exercised a "reasonable, justified, and appropriate use of force in order for the deputies to defend themselves and the public from the extreme danger posed by the occupants of the [SUV]."

The report also said that deputies and the public were in danger from the occupants of the speeding car:

Douglas County deputies engaged in a pursuit of a stolen Infinity reaching speeds in excess of 100 mph. The Infinity led deputies through various areas including commercial and residential areas. Along the route the Infinity itself posed an extreme danger to the deputies as well as to the public. An occupant of the Infinity fired multiple shots from a handgun from the Infinity at pursuing deputies.

You can read the whole report here.

Related: Golden Man Held on $100K Bond After Douglas County Shootout

Related: 1 Dead, 1 Injured After Officer-Involved Douglas Co. Shooting