The Denver District Attorney will open a grand jury investigation into the LoDo police shooting in which officers injured six bystanders while firing at an armed suspect.
Denver District Attorney Beth McCann‘s decision means a group of 12 jurors will decide whether the officers who fired their weapons should be indicted on criminal charges. It is the first time McCann has convened a grand jury to investigate a police shooting, spokeswoman Carolyn Tyler said.
The July 17 police shooting at Larimer and 20th streets sparked outrage across the city and pledges from Denver police officials to provide a thorough, transparent investigation into its officers’ actions.
“The public’s interest in this particular shooting incident is understandably high,” McCann said Tuesday in a news release announcing the investigation. “For the community to trust in the outcome from this incident, it is important that independent members of the community review the facts, evidence and law regarding whether these officers should be criminally charged. Until the grand jury’s work is complete, my office will have no further comment on this matter.”
Three Denver police officers started following Jordan Waddy because they believed he had a gun after they saw him lift up his shirt and grab at his waistband during an argument. When confronted by police, Waddy pulled a handgun from his clothing and was holding it by the slide on the top of the gun when the officers fired, police said. The officers injured Waddy as well as the six bystanders in the immediate vicinity of 20th and Larimer streets as bars closed for the night.
Waddy faces three counts of possession of a weapon by a previous offender and one count of third-degree assault in connection to the incident. Prosecutors declined to file a felony menacing count even though Denver police had arrested Waddy on suspicion of that charge after alleging he had pointed a handgun at officers.
Attorneys for three of the bystanders shot by police commended McCann’s decision to convene a grand jury.
“DA McCann must ensure this case does not follow the pattern of grand jury investigations being used to exonerate and legitimize officer misconduct,” the Rathod Mohamedbhai law firm said in a news release. “Denver’s officers must be indicted and tried for their extremely reckless acts of violence.”
Tyrone Glover, Waddy’s civil rights attorney, said he was cautiously optimistic about McCann’s decision to use a grand jury.
“Jordan will get justice,” Glover said.
Denver police Cmdr. Matt Clark previously defended the officers’ actions but also acknowledged that the situation could have been handled differently.
Two of the officers believed they had a clear shot without people behind the suspect when they fired, Clark said. A third officer could see a crowd of people standing behind the suspect, Clark said, and because of that fired only a single round. The entire incident lasted less than five seconds, he said.
The three officers — Meagan Lieberson, Brandon Ramos and Kenneth Rowland — are working non-patrol assignments while the investigation continues, Denver police spokesman Doug Schepman said Tuesday.
