Colorado Springs police officers fatally shoots man when he exited the vehicle with an airsoft rifle

2 months ago
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Colorado Springs, CO - The man fatally shot by Colorado Springs police officers in August was not holding a real weapon, but rather an airsoft gun resembling a rifle, according to the department's significant event briefing video released Thursday.

According to police, the incident started when officers located a vehicle belonging to 42-year-old Cole Vannuci — wanted for first-degree kidnapping — on Aug. 22 just before 3 p.m. In response, detectives followed the vehicle and requested backup.

About 30 minutes later, additional responding officers spotted Vannuci's car again, this time parked in front of a residence in the 1100 block of Branding Iron Circle. As law enforcement tried to initiate contact with him, Vannuci allegedly attempted to drive away, but was blocked by department vehicles.

In the body-cam footage released on Thursday, officers can be heard issuing commands to Vannuci to exit the vehicle as sirens ring in the background. At one point, an officer broke the back window of Vannuci's car, using an "impact round" to deploy tear gas into the vehicle.

However, right around the same time, officers observed the barrel of an apparent rifle in the car's side mirror.

"I believe it was the barrel of a gun I saw in that mirror," one officer can be heard saying. "Get some gas in that car."

Just before the gas was deployed, police say Vannuci stepped outside to confront officers with the weapon in his hand.

According to the department, two officers fired several rounds, striking Vannuci. In the recently released footage, Vannuci can be seen falling to the ground as multiple shots start to ring out. He appears motionless on the ground as officers continue to command him to put his hands up.

Police said emergency care was rendered, but Vannuci was declared dead on scene.

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