Colorado Springs officer-involved shooting ruled justified

The District Attorney’s Office ruled Wednesday that the Colorado Springs police officers involved in a fatal shooting with a suspect on April 24, used justified force.

Jonathan Patzel was shot by officers who responded to a domestic dispute call at Arbor Pointe Apartment Homes at 2475 Hancock Expressway

Officers Colton Graham, Thomas Walling, Ryan Levichi, and Sergeant Patricia Turecheck responded separately to the scene at 4:26 p.m. The female victim had fled her apartment and reported to her neighbor that Patzel had slapped, choked, and threatened her with a butcher knife.

Officers located Patzel who had locked himself in apartment unit 92 to avoid arrest. He refused to speak with the officers or open the door. Officers heard a lighter click behind the door and observed smoke coming from inside the apartment.

After multiple failed attempts to communicate with the suspect, officers forced the door open. Patzel charged the officers with his hands over his head and Graham and Walling shot him. Officers found an approximately 7″ butcher knife next to the entry area of unit 92. The report does not confirm if officers saw Patzel holding the knife.

The officers handcuffed Patzel and successfully put out the flames inside the unit with a fire extinguisher. Patzel was transported to a hospital where he later died of his injuries.

The incident was reviewed by the 4th Judicial District Attorney’s office and a Deadly Force Investigation Team. There will be no forthcoming charges against the involved officers.