DENVER — The man who shot a Denver Police officer last summer pleaded guilty on Thursday to attempted first-degree murder, court records show.
Eleven other charges against Steven Calderon were dismissed as part of the plea deal.
Around 7:30 p.m. on June 7, 2023, Denver Police received an alert from their Spot Shotter system that there had been gunfire in the area of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Cherry Street.
They got a description of a potential suspect, later identified as Calderon, and located him within a few minutes. He rode off on a scooter, then went on foot, police said.
After briefly pursuing the suspect by car, officers got out and started a foot pursuit, catching up with him a few blocks to the east.
There was then an exchange of gunfire between an officer and Calderon, during which both of them were shot, police said.
The bullet struck a gun magazine that was on his duty belt and destroyed it, according to the district attorney's office. That magazine ultimately prevented the bullet from penetrating his body, but he did suffer bruising to his abdomen.
Calderon was shot twice, once in his leg and once in his back. He was taken to a hospital for treatment but ultimately survived his injuries. He's set to be sentenced on Oct. 10.
The Denver District Attorney's Office determined the officer's use of force was justified and declined to charge him. They noted that he only used physical force after Calderon fired at him.
