AURORA | An Aurora police officer who shot an armed man outside a Denver motel last month was justified and will not face criminal charges, Denver prosecutors said.
Aurora police Lt. Stephen Redfearn wounded 27-year-old Sydney Sylvestor on May 9 after investigators say Sylvester, who was a suspect in a shooting near East 19th Avenue and Akron Street, brandished a gun while running from police.
In a letter to Aurora Police Chief Nick Metz, Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey said Redfearn was justified when he shot Sylvester once in the shoulder during a chase at the Sand and Sage Motel on east Colfax Avenue.
According to the letter, Sylvester was running from Denver officers when he ran into Redfearn’s path, coming face-to-face with the officer with just a few feet between them.
“When Lt. Redfearn saw Sylvester with the gun in his hand, it was reasonable for him to believe the gun was loaded and to fear that Sylvester would fire at him. Lt. Redfearn was not required to wait to see if Sylvester would fire,” Morrissey wrote.
In the letter, Morrissey said Sylvester was a suspect in the Aurora shooting and Redfearn saw him in a white SUV near the Denver and Aurora border.
Sylvester was charged with felony menacing in Denver, but has not been charged in connection with the Aurora shooting. Morrissey said shell casings found at the scene matched the gun Sylvester brandished outside the motel.
Aurora police spokesman Sgt. Chris Amsler said the Aurora shooting is still under investigation.