Man dies in police shooting overnight in downtown Colorado Springs
Scott Harrison
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – Police are investigating the city’s second officer-involved shooting in two weeks.
The latest incident happened overnight Friday in downtown Colorado Springs.
Police have released few details about the shooting, but said that a male suspect died at the scene; no one else was injured.
According to CSPD, at around 1:30 a.m., officers received a call about a disturbance on Pikes Peak Avenue, near the Tejon Street intersection; the report indicated that a man displayed a gun as several nightclubs were preparing to close.
That report was confirmed by officers monitoring downtown cameras who saw a man fitting the reported description. He was identified as 26-year-old Alex Martinez-Sarmiento.
When officers approached the man, he attempted to run away while reaching for his waistband; an officer fired at least one shot, striking Martinez-Sarmiento.
Police said they recovered a firearm nearby.
As of 8 a.m. Saturday, three blocks are closed for the investigation: Pikes Peak Avenue, between Tejon Street and Nevada Avenue; and Tejon Street from Colorado Avenue to Kiowa Street.
As required by law, an independent agency will be in charge of the investigation; in this case, it is the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office.
Within 21 days, police will release a significant event briefing video, which will include body-worn camera footage and other releasable facts about the case.
The death remains under investigation. Police are asking anyone who witnessed the shooting or has information about it to contact them at (719) 444-7000.
Shondon McMorris was at The Mansion with his girlfriend early Saturday morning and told KRDO13 what he saw.
“It happened so fast. It was crazy like, in the matter of seconds,” recounted Shondon McMorris.
He says he was close to the incident.
“I’m three paces behind him. Like I’m literally right behind him. So he walks to his car, he gets to his car, opened up the driver’s door, and he’s standing there, me and my lady, we walk past the car,” said McMorris. “He ran around in his car in front of his, in front of the car. The officer came right in front of him, right behind him, and he took three steps. And the officer shot him three times in the back.”
However, officers say the suspect turned and ran, while reaching for his waistband.
McMorris says seeing it all happen right in front of him and his girlfriend was tough.
“We’re a little shaken. She was. She had never witnessed anything like that before,” said McMorris.
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