Police Shooting Of Hostage-Taker Ruled Justified

The Fourth Judicial District Attorney’s Office has completed an investigation into an officer-involved shooting that happened in February at a doctor’s office.

Officials say they reviewed the facts surrounding the incident and decided the officer’s use of deadly force against a suspect was reasonable and justified.

On February 28th, Colorado Springs Police Officers responded to a hostage situation at Urological Associates at 75 Printers Pkwy. A gunman, Dominic Oliver, had taken two women hostage inside the business.

Dozens of other people were evacuated from the building and Oliver ultimately released both hostages to police.

Oliver remained inside the building with his gun. Officers learned that there were several people trapped and hiding inside the building with Oliver. Oliver did not seem to know the people were there, though several were hiding under desks in his immediate area. Police kept an open phone line with one of those hidden hostages. Negotiators tried to persuade Oliver to lay down his weapon and surrender, but he would not.

After nearly three hours, officers learned that one of the hidden hostages was in distress. In attempt to remove her from the area, they tried to distract Oliver while an officer could go and rescue the hostages. However, Oliver came face to face with a CSPD officer. According to the District Attorney’s Office, Oliver grabbed his gun and raised it in a firing position towards the officer. The officer fired two rounds from his weapon, striking Oliver with both. Oliver was treated on scene and transported to Memorial Hospital where he died from his gunshot wounds.

Colorado Revised Statutes 18-1-707 provides that an officer is justified in using deadly force if he reasonably believes that it is necessary to defend himself or a third person from what he reasonably believes to be the imminent use of deadly physical force.

The District Attorney’s Office reviews all incidents involving a discharged weapon by an officer.