AURORA | Arapahoe County sheriff deputies fatally shot a man early Sunday who authorities say was trespassing in a back yard and then charged at deputies, striking one with a metal pole.
Deputies were called to a house on the 4700 block of East Caley Place about 6 a.m. after a resident said a man was behaving suspiciously in a neighbor’s back yard.
“When deputies arrived, they encountered an adult male carrying a large metal pole,” Arapahoe County Sheriff Department spokesperson Ginger Delgado said in a statement. “According to the preliminary investigation, the male advanced toward the deputies while holding the pole and struck one deputy.”
Officers attempted to use “less lethal” attempts to constrain the man, including a Taser, but the man persisted, officials said.
“Two deputies then discharged their firearms, striking the man,” Delgado said.
Officers rendered medical aid to the man before paramedics arrived, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
One of the deputies who shot at the man is a 6-year department veteran, and the other has worked for the department for 14 years. Both were placed on paid administrative leave, as per department policy.
An 18th Judicial District Critical Incident Response Team responded to the scene, which is a multi-agency team that investigates officer-involved shootings.
The identity of the man will be released by coroner officials at a later date.