DENVER — Denver Police are investigating after three of their officers shot and killed a woman Sunday after they say she came toward officers with a knife.
Police were first called out around 11:45 a.m. Sunday after getting multiple reports of a woman armed with a knife standing in the busy intersection of Broadway and Lawrence Street near Samaritan House downtown.
Minutes later, officers arrived to find the woman still in the road carrying what they called a "very large, hunting-style knife."
"The officers issued a number of commands for them to drop the weapon, which they refused. Actually began to advance on the officers. The officers then deployed a taser twice. Both of those taser deployments appeared to make impact but didn’t have the desired effect," Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas said. "The suspect then began to hasten their pace toward the officers as the officers again were continuing to backpedal. The officers then transitioned to their handguns and fired a number of rounds. The suspect went down."
Thomas said three officers fired their weapons. It wasn't immediately clear how many shots were fired.
Police said they called for an ambulance and offered care, but the woman died soon after.
Thomas said it appeared the officers followed protocol.
"Obviously we're going to have to interview those officers and other witnesses," Thomas said. "I'm sure there's other video we'll have to review in order to make that ultimate determination. And ultimately, I think it's going to be the DA's decision whether or not the officers acted lawfully, but my belief is that the officers perceived a significant threat and responded to that threat."
For hours Sunday, police blocked off the busy intersection as investigators continued to gather evidence.
Police said the investigation into the shooting will be conducted by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, the Colorado State Patrol, and DPD. All of it will be under the oversight of the office of the independent monitor, according to Thomas.
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