DENVER — Denver Police (DPD) gave updates Friday on two shootings that involved their officers. The first shooting happened around 2:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 19 near the intersection of East 46th Avenue and York Street. The second incident occurred later that day inside the Whole Foods Market in downtown Denver.
In that case, Commander Matt Clark said officers were called to East 45th Avenue and St. Paul Street around 2:35 p.m.
The caller told officers he was driving to the Burger King in the area when he saw a man walking slowly in the street. The caller said he continued to drive slowly behind the person and did not try to get their attention.
At one point, the caller said the suspect, identified as 36-year-old Rueben Sanez, turned around and pointed what looked like a gun at him, Clark said.
The suspect then continued walking on and was later seen pointing the gun-like object towards the Burger King. Another victim reported they were sitting in the Burger King when the suspect walked by outside, pointed the weapon at him and fired.
The gun turned out to be a realistic-looking Airsoft gun, police said. The projectiles did not break through the glass but did leave marks.
A plainclothes officer located a man matching the suspect's description near 45th Avenue and Josephine Street and monitored him while waiting for additional information, police said.
The suspect then reached into a bag and took out the gun-like object before walking towards the plainclothes officer and stopping a few feet away from his car, Clark said. The officer, who was concerned he could be shot, got out of his car, drew his gun and identified himself.
Clark said the officer was wearing a tactical vest on top of his normal layer of clothing, identifying him as a police officer.
The man refused to follow officers' commands to drop the gun-like object, turned around and walked away, Clark said.
Uniformed officers in three patrol cars arrived to provide backup and followed the suspect while continuing to tell him to drop the item, which he ignored, Clark said.
Once the suspect reached 46th Avenue, he turned and yelled at officers, "Shoot me, shoot me," he said.
Eventually, while the suspect was walking backward towards York Street while facing five officers, he stopped in the intersection.
The suspect briefly raised the gun-like object, lowered it and raised it again towards the officers, Clark said. The officers then fired 12 shots at the suspect until they believed he no longer posed a threat. He was hit with several gunshots in the arm and torso.
The suspect was rushed to a hospital. Police said the man was expected to survive.
Clark said Sanez will be charged by the Denver District Attorney's Office with seven counts of felony menacing.
>Watch Friday's full news conference below:
In the second case, Clark said officers were called to the Whole Foods located at 1701 Wewatta St. at around 6:15 p.m. for a man brandishing a knife inside the store.
An off-duty officer who was working at the store said the suspect, later identified as 33-year-old Latif Robinson, caught his attention while walking in because he appeared "out of it." The officer greeted him, but the suspect did not respond and kept walking into the store.
A few minutes later, the suspect was seen going behind the deli counter and grabbing a large butcher-style knife, Clark said. The four off-duty, uniformed officers in the store were alerted and confronted the suspect in the customer area in front of the deli.
While officers were negotiating with the suspect, there were times when he would push the point of the knife into himself, police said.
A few minutes later, he put down the butcher-style knife and picked up a 12-inch serrated kitchen blade, Clark said.
Officers trying to negotiate with the suspect and offered him food, a place to stay, access to a hospital, money and a chance to charge his phone in an attempt to de-escalate the situation, according to Clark.
Officers believed they saw a change in the suspect's movement, which at first was slow and deliberate but became more threatening as he moved towards the officers, Clark said. Fearing the suspect may use the knife, an officer fired a taser and another fired a gun at the same time.
The gunshot did not hit anyone, but the taser was successful and the suspect was taken into custody, Clark said.
The suspect was treated at the hospital and released into custody on suspicion of felony menacing. Clark said DPD is working with its internal mental health resources and the district attorney's office to see what treatment options are available for Robinson.
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