Pueblo officers justified in fatal shooting of man with BB gun
Prosecutors say two Pueblo police officers were justified when they shot and killed a man who pointed a BB gun at them during a confrontation last year.
The Pueblo Chieftain reports 55-year-old Steven Peters Sr. was killed March 6, 2018, after aiming the black gun at the officers, who were trying to talk to him about a reported domestic disturbance. Peters was shot seven times and died at the scene.
Pueblo County District Attorney Jeff Chostner released a letter Wednesday saying the officers “had reasonable ground to believe, and did believe, that they were in imminent danger of being killed.”
Investigators say Peters did not follow commands and raised the gun at one of the officers.
Previous Story
Pueblo Police Officers Thomas DeCesaro and Adam Quintana were involved in a fatal shooting.
The Pueblo Police Department released the names of the officers Friday. Both DeCesaro and Quintana have returned to full duty.
Officers were called to reports of a restraining order violation on March 6 on E. 8th Street.
Suspect Steven Peters, 55, from Pueblo left the scene on a bike. Police began searching the area for the suspect and found him near the corner of 9th Street and Lola Avenue.
Police said Peters reached for his waist. Officers tried to use a stun gun, but it failed, so they ran after him.
“They were yelling: gun, gun, gun, firearm, giving loud verbal commands for him to drop the weapon, but he just didn’t do it,” said Cpt. Kenny Rider, with the Pueblo Police Department.
Shortly after Peters refused to put the handgun down officers opened fire, killing him.
No officers were hurt in the shooting.
