FORT LUPTON, Colo. — A Fort Lupton police officer has been charged with one count of manslaughter stemming from a shooting in January.
The Weld County Statutory Grand Jury handed down the indictment against Fort Lupton Police Officer Zachary Helbig on Friday.
Helbig was involved in the fatal shooting of Shawn Billinger on Jan. 16, 2019 during a call for a disturbance at the Shell gas station at 641 14th St. in Fort Lupton, Weld County, according to the indictment.
Helbig pursued Billinger, who was driving a gold-colored minivan, to the 100 block of 9th Street, and Billinger got out of his vehicle and ran, the indictment says.
Helbig then pursued Billinger on foot and gave verbal commands that included "come here," "stop" and "police," according to the indictment.
Billinger then rapidly walked toward Helbig yelling "kill me" with nothing in his hands, according to the indictment.
Helbig fired one shot at Billinger, striking him in the chest, the indictment says. Billinger was pronounced dead at the scene.
A forensic autopsy determined the cause of death to be a gunshot wound to the chest, sustained during an altercation with law enforcement.
"The defendant acted recklessly with respect to his conduct described above and was not justified in the actions he took pursuant to the affirmative defenses of deadly force in the defense of a person and peace officer's use of deadly physical force," the indictment says.
A judge has set bond at $50,000.
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