BRIGHTON, Colo. — A Commerce City man was sentenced Friday to 50 years in prison for the fatal shooting of his neighbor and for firing shots at Commerce City Police officers and Adams County Sheriff's deputies, according to the 17th Judicial District Attorney's Office.
Andrew Reineke shot and killed his neighbor, Andrew Ervin, on Aug. 3, 2021, near their homes on Grape Street. Reineke shot Ervin 11 times in the back. When Commerce City Police responded to the scene, Reineke ran into an alley and menaced a family with his gun to keep them quiet, the DA's office said in a news release.
From the alley, Reineke fired eight times at a Commerce City Police officer. One of the bullets passed through the officer's shirt sleeve. Body camera video released by the DA's Office shows the officer run after being fired on and report that he thought he was shot.
Reineke also fired shots at an Adams County Deputy's vehicle, striking one of the tires and a part of the car close to where a deputy was sitting, the release says.
Law enforcement officers returned fire, hit Reineke and took him into custody.
Reineke pleaded guilty on Sept. 20 to second-degree murder and second-degree attempted murder.
During the sentencing hearing, the Commerce City Police officer whose sleeve was hit by gunfire made a statement to the court:
"Andrew Reineke heard me talking on the radio, he saw me in full police uniform, and he waited to ambush," the officer said, according to the release. "He opened fire with every round he had in his gun. As I retreated, having no idea where this gunfire was coming from, I took a bullet through my right sleeve. He continued to shoot as I retreated to a place of cover. Thank god my training and luck trumped yours. I gave my tourniquet to help save his life. We did this because we are professionals, not cold-blooded murderers. Evil of this level has no place amongst us, our children, or our children's children."
> Content warning: The body camera video below includes strong language and gunfire:
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