(COLORADO SPRINGS) — The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) has released a Significant Event Briefing on an officer-involved shooting that took place in downtown Colorado Springs on Saturday, July 5, and led to the death of 26-year-old Alex Martinez-Sarmiento
The briefing includes a recording of the original 911 call, as well as camera footage from the incident, including officers’ body-worn cameras and footage from downtown cameras.
According to CSPD, on July 5, just before 1:30 a.m., a call for service came in from a community member who reported seeing a man carrying a rifle and screaming at people. According to the 911 call, the incident occurred in a parking lot in front of the Mansion Nightclub on East Pikes Peak Avenue.
In the 911 call, the gun was described as appearing to be a semi-automatic weapon that resembled an M4 rifle. The caller stated that a man was allegedly holding it down in a low, but ready position in his hand as he was screaming at a group of people in a threatening manner.
According to CSPD, officers in the Real Time Crime Center (RTCC) scanned cameras in the area, and though they did not initially identify a person holding a gun, a group of people arguing was spotted nearby at 108 East Pikes Peak Avenue. Officers in the area approached the group. According to body-worn camera footage, the officers broke up the argument and dispersed the crowd.
According to CSPD, the group of people continued the argument in a second location, requiring an additional contact by police, where they were again told to leave the area.
CSPD reported that RTCC continued to monitor the group on camera while searching camera footage recorded around the time that the 911 call came in. Video portraying a man matching the description from the call, carrying what appeared to be a rifle. The man appeared to be one of the individuals in the group that CSPD had been monitoring. RTCC informed officers on the scene of the identity of the man in the video.
According to CSPD, while officers were determining next steps, RTCC observed that the argument within the group that they were monitoring appeared to escalate, and the individual in question went to a car and was then seen carrying a handgun with an extended magazine.
RTCC reported the handgun to officers on scene, and according to CSPD, the officers began to approach the suspect, who then appeared to conceal the firearm in the waistband of his pants. When told to put his hands up, he briefly complied, but then turned and ran from the officer while allegedly reaching for his waistband. At that time, one officer fired multiple shots and hit the suspect.
CSPD stated that officers took the suspect into custody and began to render medical aid, but the suspect died on the scene. While medical care was being provided, officers located the handgun, a loaded Glock 17 with an illegal extended magazine, in the right pant leg of the suspect.
CSPD reported that on scene, in a vehicle related to the incident, officers found a second gun, a loaded Glock 43 with a defaced serial number. The rifle observed in the camera footage has not been located.
CSPD stated that, according to Colorado law, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office responded and initiated an investigation into CSPD’s use of force, and once the investigation is completed, the results will be sent to the Fourth Judicial District Attorney’s Office for a determination on whether the officer’s use of force complied with Colorado Law.
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