The Boulder County Investigations Team and the Boulder County District Attorney’s Office are investigating a Longmont Police Department officer-involved shooting which occurred on July 10, 2020.

The following description is based on preliminary information, recordings from dispatch, and body-worn camera video. At approximately 1:11 am on July 10, 2020, the Longmont Emergency Communications Center (LECC) received a call from a male, calling for a female friend who was unable to call, and lived in the apartment complex, Building A at 600 Martin Street. He reported a black male, who was known to the female, was outside her apartment, harassing her, and refusing to leave. The caller additionally reported the suspect “had a 9 mm in his back pocket.”

Officers responded to the parking lot near buildings A, B, and C and contacted the suspect outside the apartment. As officers approached the suspect, they asked him to put his hands up and asked him if he was carrying a weapon. The suspect initially complied and denied that he was armed.

The officers stepped closer, and the suspect stepped back and drew a pistol from his front waistband. Officers yelled multiple commands to drop the weapon, and one officer fired at the suspect with his handgun. The suspect then dropped between two cars, and the officers lost sight of the suspect. An officer with a view of the suspect told others that he was still holding the pistol. Officers continued to ask the suspect to drop the weapon, show his hands, and he did not comply. The officer with a view of the suspect fired with a rifle.

The suspect, age 26, was transported to the UC Health Longs Peak Hospital and has since been transferred by helicopter to the Medical Center of the Rockies. He is in critical condition. The suspect was carrying an Illinois driver’s license, and his current home address is unknown.  Investigators are also investigating the suspect’s alleged offenses against the woman in the apartment.

The two involved Longmont Police Officers who fired their weapons, per our policy, have been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the external investigation. No officers were injured in the shooting.

Certain portions of 600 Martin St. will be closed while the investigation is conducted. A picture of the pistol, which turned out to be a BB gun that looked identical to a handgun, and several screenshots of the suspect drawing the pistol have been included with this release. This case remains under investigation. As in any investigation, the suspect is presumed innocent until proven otherwise.

The Critical Incident Team for the 20th Judicial District is investigating this case. This multi-agency team is designated to investigate incidents in which any law enforcement officer within the 20th Judicial District uses physical or deadly force against a person while acting under the color of official law enforcement duties. The Boulder County Critical Incident Team quickly responded to Longmont and will be conducting an extremely thorough investigation. Consistent with the Boulder County protocol, the Longmont Police Department will not participate in the investigation.

Anyone who may have witnessed this incident is asked to call Lafayette Police Department Commander, Scott Emmerson at (303) 661-1398.