Denver police released bodycam footage for officer-involved shooting killing man

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Denver, CO - Denver Police are releasing body camera footage from an officer-involved shooting last month that ended with a suspect dead.

Normally, DPD holds press conference and body camera video releases within around a week of an officer-involved shooting. However, Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas said this was delayed in order to notify the family of the man killed and give them the video first.

New body camera footage captures the response following a 911 call around 6:25 pm on March 20, reporting a man camping behind the catholic school on the 3500 block of Lafayette Street.

“The caller also indicated the individual had a knife in a holster and was possibly armed with a firearm,” DPD Major Crimes Division Commander Matt Clark said.

Previous: No officers injured, suspect dead after shooting in north Denver
Between two cameras, footage shows officers removing boxes around the man now identified as 57-year-old Jose Medina, a man police believe was in and out of homelessness. DPD Chief Ron Thomas says the department has recorded contact with Medina since 2005.

“Once the cardboard is removed, this is what the officers saw: Mr. Medina, holding a replica firearm in his right hand,” Clark said. “They attempted to de-escalate the situation by communicating with him, encouraging his compliance. After approximately a minute and 20 seconds, while the individual continued to hold the firearm and not comply with the orders, the subject suddenly raised the weapon in the direction of the officers. And in response for Denver, police officers discharged their firearms, striking the individual multiple times.”

Clark said four officers collectively fired 16 rounds.

Footage then shows officers come up to Medina, take the gun out of his hand and handcuff him. During this time, one officer keeps a weapon on Medina’s head.

“That’s not something that we trained,” Thomas said. “I think in the officer’s interview, it was revealed that he was still concerned about the individual being able to access the weapon. And so, I think he was using that as a de-escalation technique to make sure that he was aware that that that there were armed officers that were engaging with him and that he shouldn’t access that weapon.

After securing Medina, Clark said officers rendered aid, including the application of a chest seal and a tourniquet kit. He said an ambulance was requested and Medina was transported to hospital, where he later died from his injuries.