Fountain officer ruled justified in shooting of driver in stolen truck in west Colorado Springs

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- The police officer who shot an auto theft suspect in a west Colorado Springs neighborhood won't face any criminal charges and was ruled justified in the shooting.

The 4th Judicial District Attorney's Office announced the ruling Thursday regarding the shooting on March 2 at W. High Point Lane.

We reported when the suspect, 22-year-old Tyler Frisch, was taken into custody after being shot in the abdomen following a chase. The DA's office provided more details about what led to the officer shooting Frisch.

According to the DA's office, Frisch was spotted driving a stolen truck in the area of Wasatch Ave., and officers followed him from Uintah Street to Mesa Road, and they stopped the truck near Terrace Street.

Frisch was ordered out of the truck, but ran away into the neighborhood. A sergeant reported seeing Frisch holding a handgun while running. Eventually, the officers caught up to Frisch holding the gun to his head at the end of the cul-de-sac on High Point Lane.

The officers reported seeing Frisch playing with the gun, tossing it between his hands and then firing one shot in the air before reloading it with a new round. At one point, Frisch pointed the gun at the officers, and that's when Fountain Police Sergeant Stephen Williams fired one shot from his rifle and hit Frisch in the abdomen.

Frisch was then quickly arrested and taken to the hospital, where he's still being treated, according to the DA's office.

The DA's office cited Colorado Revised Statues 18-1-707 citing police use of deadly force if their life or the life of another person is threatened.

Charges are still pending against Frisch for first-degree assault of a peace officer with a weapon and other counts, according to the DA's office statement. A mugshot hasn't been made available since Frisch hasn't been booked into jail.