Deputies cleared in shooting of Monument man
MONUMENT, Colo. (KRDO) -- The two El Paso County deputies who fatally shot a man during a standoff in Monument several months ago will not be criminally charged.
The 4th Judicial District Attorney's Office issued a statement Thursday saying the shooting of 20-year-old David Page was justified because the deputies had a reasonable belief that Page was going to "inflict serious bodily injury or endanger human life."
Page was killed following a standoff inside his apartment on Sept. 29. Police officers were called to his apartment for a disturbance and heard a loud commotion before hearing a caretaker yell out that Page had a machete.
Officers tried to make contact with Page, but he bolted the doors shut and refused to come out. That's when a corporal at the scene told Page that he "didn't want to force the issue" and would instead return later to take a criminal mischief report and charge Page, according to the District Attorney's Office. The corporal said he felt that leaving Page alone would allow time for the situation to deescalate.
But hours later, at about 3 p.m. on the same day, the Monument Police Department got reports that Page was firing an air-powered rifle at people and vehicles that were passing by his apartment.
Two people were hit, including a young girl who was riding in a passing car, according to the statement. Page's air-powered rifle shot shattered the window's glass and struck the child.
After that report, multiple police agencies and the El Paso County Sheriff's Office SWAT Unit went to Page's apartment shortly before 4 p.m. and surrounded the perimeter.
Within minutes, Page went inside the apartment and returned with a weapon that appeared to be a semi-automatic pistol, and he then pointed that at officers. Deputies C. Wheat and R. Gonzales fired a total of five shots at Page, and he was struck three times. Page was pronounced dead at the scene.
It turned out that the pistol was an inoperable BB gun, but the orange safety cap had been painted black to look like a real weapon.
After the shooting, the investigation was handled by the Colorado Springs Police Department and a report was given to the 4th Judicial District Attorney's Office.
