DENVER — Two Denver police officers will not face charges related to a shooting that left a 36-year-old man dead earlier this year, the Denver District Attorney's Office announced.
>The video above is from Aug. 14.
Brandon Cole was shot and killed on Aug. 5 just after 8 p.m. after police responded to a domestic violence call on West Cedar Avenue near South Zuni Street in the Valverde neighborhood. A 911 caller told dispatchers that a man had possibly pushed his wife out of a wheelchair and was "going after" his teenage son.
When two officers arrived, Cole was leaning inside his SUV that was parked along the street curb.
One officer called out to Cole, but he did not respond, the DA's decision letter states. The officer then called out again. Cole closed the driver's door and replied, "what's up?", according to the decision letter. He faced the officer in a crouching position with his right elbow bent, keeping his right hand at his right hip and behind his back, the decision letter says.
The other officer yelled for Cole to show her his hands, but he did not comply, the decision letter says.
Cole then began moving toward one of the officers and yelling aggressively, the decision letter states. The other officer moved to the south side of the street to be parallel with Cole. She radioed to dispatch that Cole was armed with a knife, the decision letter says.
Cole moved toward one officer with his right arm back, and the officer pulled out his Taser, according to the decision letter. The other officer yelled at Cole to stop, the decision letter says.
Cole then turned and ran toward one officer. The other officer fired his Taser, but the electrical current didn't impede Cole from continuing, the decision letter says. As Cole faced the officer, he raised his arms in front of his face, and the officer fired her gun, the decision letter says. The bullet went through Cole's right forearm and entered the center of his chest, the decision letter says. The officer fired a second shot that grazed Cole's upper left back, the decision letter says.
Cole fell onto the sidewalk and the object that was in his hand rolled onto the street, the decision letter says. When the object was later recovered, it was found to be a black felt marker.
After the shooting, community leaders said the officers needed to do more to de-escalate the situation.
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