Sheriff’s office updates investigation into Springs officer involved shooting

The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office has released an update on the investigation into the officer involved shooting death of a man who police say had just killed three people.

Noah Harpham, 33, died in a shootout with police at the intersection of Platte Ave. and Wahsatch Ave. on October 31, 2015.

The sheriff’s office is investigating the officer involved shooting and says that as of November 3, 2015, it has interviewed more than 20 witnesses. Those witnesses include the four officers who were involved in the shooting, other officers on scene who did not fire their weapons and medical personnel.

The sheriff’s office says that based on video evidence, physical evidence at the scene and witness interviews, investigators have determined that Harpham was standing near the center median of Platte Avenue and Wahsatch Avenue on the south side of the roadway. He was armed with a pistol in one hand and a rifle in the other hand. He was given commands to drop his guns. He refused and immediately began firing at police. A CSPD car was struck in the front windshield.

Harpham began to move from the center of the roadway south towards Wendy’s while firing in rapid succession towards police. Four officers from the Colorado Springs Police Department returned fire, striking Harpham once with a fatal round. It was determined that Harpham was armed with an AR15 rife, a .357 revolver, and a 9mm semi-automatic pistol.

The District Attorney’s Office will determine if the shooting was justified.