EDITOR’S NOTE: This story addresses issues linked to suicide. If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide or self-injury, call or text 988 or click here: www.988colorado.com
AURORA | Police fatally shot a Black man who investigators said was in the midst of a mental health crisis Thursday while the man was stabbing a veteran canine officer in the head with a butcher knife, critically injuring him.
At about 3:15 p.m. officers were called to an apartment complex in the 14000 block of East Stanford Circle after receiving a report of a 23-year-old man threatening to harm himself and others, according to police.
Aurora police are under a state-imposed consent decree linked to a state investigation that revealed “patterns and practices” of officers using excessive force, especially against people of color.
Police Chief Todd Chamberlain said the call originated from Aurora Mental Health officials, who relayed concerns for the safety of the man, his family members and the surrounding community.
Chamberlain said the man had a history of mental health problems and was previously under a mental health hold.
Officers, along with the department’s Crisis Response Team, which pairs a police officer with a mental health clinician, arrived about 3:45 p.m. and attempted to de-escalate the situation.
Chamberlain said mental health workers initially made contact with the man by phone, but communication later broke down.
Police spent roughly 25 minutes attempting to contain the situation and re-establish communication with the man, officials said.
During that time, officers could see the man inside the apartment holding a large butcher knife to his neck and making threats against himself and others, Chamberlain said.
“This isn’t something that was taken lightly,” Chamberlain said. “This is something where our resources, our personnel came together with the proper resources, the proper equipment, the proper tools to effectively deal with somebody who is experiencing mental health issues.”
When attempts to reach the man failed, a mental health clinician approached the apartment to try to engage the man.
Chamberlain said that at one point, the man abruptly came out of the apartment and charged at officers.
The chief said the man ran directly at the canine-handling officer and began stabbing him repeatedly in the head with the knife.
Chamberlain described the attack as “a full speed head-on charge” and “incredibly overtly aggressive,” saying the knife broke during the assault and a portion remained lodged in the officer’s head.
“This was not something light,” he said. “This is a large butcher knife that was repeatedly thrust into the head of our police officer.”
Other officers deployed a Taser and a 40mm less-lethal launcher, but neither stopped the attack, police said. During the struggle, the injured officer fired his gun, striking the man and killing him.
“The contact itself was seconds — seconds,” Chamberlain said. “That’s how fast that occurred.”
Officers and emergency personnel provided immediate medical aid to both the officer and the suspect.
The officer was transported to a hospital, where he underwent treatment and is expected to survive, according to police spokesperson Joe Moylan.
The police dog also suffered injuries but is expected to recover.
The suspect was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Chamberlain said.
Police said the injured officer has been with the department since 2002 and has served in the canine unit since 2012.
The 18th Judicial Critical Incident Response Team is leading the investigation into the shooting, while Aurora police are conducting an internal review.
“This situation, it is without question a tragedy,” Chamberlain said. “The only positive thing that came out of it is that our officer is not dead.”
The identity of the man will be released by the Arapahoe County Coroner’s Office at a later date.
During the press conference, Chamberlain repeated remarks that officers arriving on the scene were prepared and properly staffed to deal with the potentially volatile situation involving a suspect with mental health issues, and in particularly, “suicidal ideation.”
Aurora police were criticized by outside experts and some police personnel who told Sentinel reporters last year that Aurora officers were unprepared for and mishandled a so-called “suicide by cop” call, where the unarmed suspect was shot dead by police.
Despite the allegations, the officer who fired the fatal shot was cleared by 18th Judicial District Attorney Amy Padden of any potential criminal charges.