Latest news with #CSPD
Yahoo
02-08-2025
- Yahoo
He 'was coming at me with a knife': Fatal officer-involved shooting in Colorado Springs ruled justified
WARNING: Some of the video and audio recordings previously released by CSPD and details of the incident may be disturbing to some readers. Discretion is advised. (COLORADO SPRINGS) — A fatal officer-involved shooting in Colorado Springs, in which a suspect who 'was covered in blood' rushed at officers with a knife, has been ruled justified by the 4th Judicial District Attorney's Office (DA's Office). According to the DA's Office review, at midnight on Oct. 8, 2024, officers with the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) responded to the 5100 block of Prairie Grass Lane in the Stetson Hills neighborhood near Tutt Boulevard after a 911 caller reported that his roommate had 'made suicidal threats and was harming himself.' PREVIOUS COVERAGE: CSPD releases footage of deadly Stetson Hills officer-involved shooting The caller said the man, later identified as 41-year-old Matthew Kemper, was lying on the floor of the living room and 'was covered in blood, completely nude, and armed with a knife.' CSPD Sergeant Andrew Rutter arrived on scene first at 12:07 a.m. and made contact with a second roommate, who was standing outside the home. The roommate told Sgt. Rutter that 'Mr. Kemper had attempted to assault him while armed with a knife.' CSPD Officers Noah Bartron and Kyle Mace arrived on scene shortly after, and just before 12:15 a.m., several officers approached the home with Officer Bartron at the lead. The front door was open when officers arrived, and 'Officer Bartron opened the home's screen door… while announcing the presence of law enforcement.' According to the DA's Office, 'He saw Mr. Kemper on the floor and noted Mr. Kemper had blood 'all over his face.'' According to the review, the reporting roommate was still in the front room but was separated from the officers by the suspect. 'The suspect was acting erratically and exhibiting suicidal behavior. He was armed with a knife, covered in blood, and blocking a path of escape for his roommate, the reporting party, when officers arrived,' the DA's Office wrote. 'Officers Bartron and Mace expressed they feared for the safety of the reporting party, for themselves, and for their fellow officers.' When Officer Bartron asked the roommate to exit the home, they did not respond. '…He looked terrified, like he couldn't move. He looked just scared. I remember yelling to him, 'Hey, come to me' because I wanted to get him out,' Officer Bartron stated. 'And as soon as I yelled, 'come to me,' [Mr. Kemper] lifted his chin and looked right at me.' The DA's Office reported that was when Kemper jumped to his feet. 'Officer Bartron stepped back to create space but, because the reporting party was still inside the residence, said he did not feel it was safe for law enforcement to leave.' Kemper then rushed toward officers while holding out a knife, according to the review. '…And in his left hand, I see a knife, a steak knife with a brown hilt and a silver blade that's serrated,' Officer Mace said. Officer Bartron yelled toward Kemper, 'No, no, stay, stop.' As Kemper continued to approach officers with the knife, Officer Mace 'pivoted from his department-issued taser, which he'd already drawn, to his handgun.' According to the DA's Office, Officer Mace stated he threw his taser and reached for his gun because, '[The taser] takes two probes to hit and be effective. I didn't want to risk serious bodily injury or death to myself, my partner, or the innocent.' '[Mr. Kemper] was coming at me with a knife, and I was afraid if he wasn't stopped, he was going to hurt me, my partner, or the other person in the room,' said Officer Bartron. Officer Bartron fired four rounds from his duty handgun at Kemper, who was hit multiple times and collapsed to the floor, the DA's Office wrote. 'He did not respond to commands to stop. Officers Bartron and Mace stated they were in fear for their lives, their fellow officers' lives, and the life of the reporting party,' according to the review. The reporting roommate was led outside of the house by Officer Mace while officers on scene rendered medical aid to Kemper before medical personnel arrived. 'Despite the lifesaving efforts from CSPD officers and CSFD personnel, Mr. Kemper died at the scene,' wrote the DA's Office. 'Following an autopsy, [the] El Paso County Coroner's Office determined Kemper died as the result of multiple gunshot wounds.' According to the toxicology panel, Kemper had marijuana in his system at the time of his death. The DA's Office said Officers Bartron and Mace were both equipped with body-worn cameras, but the equipment did not function correctly. The body-worn camera on Sgt. Rutter, however, did function correctly and recorded events normally. 'This information was raised with the BWC vendor, who stated this disruption was the result of a bug in their reporting system, which had been identified and resolved,' wrote the DA's Office regarding the remote activation failures and temporary interruption in device connectivity. After completing a thorough review of the facts and evidence, Colorado's 4th Judicial District Attorney's Office has determined the use of deadly physical force by Colorado Springs Police Officer Noah Bartron on October 8, 2024, was justified, based on all the facts and circumstances of this case under the laws of the State of Colorado. No charges will be filed based on the statutes outlined previously, as well as the necessary application of ethical rules. 4th Judicial District Attorney's Office If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, help is available. Call or text 988 to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline; this service provides 24/7 confidential support for anyone in crisis or emotional distress. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-06-2025
- Yahoo
CSPD: Speed a factor in fatal motorcycle vs. vehicle crash
(COLORADO SPRINGS) — The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) reported that a motorcycle and a vehicle crashed in the 2400 block of Bijou Street, at the intersection of Platte Place, killing one person on Friday, June 20. According to CSPD, when emergency personnel arrived at the location near North Union Boulevard, around 1 p.m. on Friday, they found that the motorcycle rider, who had been wearing a helmet at the time, had died at the scene. The driver of the car was taken to the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. The initial investigation by the Major Crash Team indicated that the black motorcycle had been riding westbound on Bijou Street when it hit a white Nissan sedan that was exiting southbound off Platte Place. Witness accounts indicated that the motorcycle had been going at high speeds. The investigation is ongoing, according to CSPD. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Yahoo
Austin Bluffs shooting suspect shot AK-47 at 17-year-old
(COLORADO SPRINGS) — The suspect of a shooting who left one person injured reportedly exited his vehicle and began firing on a street in Colorado Springs. On Wednesday, June 11, the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) responded to a shooting that had just taken place. Initially, police found a victim with multiple gunshot wounds near Splitrail Drive and discovered that the incident had occurred in the 4200 block of Austin Bluffs Parkway, off Dublin Boulevard. One injured in shooting near Austin Bluffs and Academy According to police, an altercation ensued between the victim and the suspect, 29-year-old Michael Brodus, who produced a weapon and fired at the vehicle the 17-year-old victim was driving. FOX21 News is now learning more about the shooting, and received arrest papers that revealed the suspect shot a mini AK-47 style rifle at the victim. A video provided by a witness showed Brodus standing behind the driver's door of a Blue Subaru holding a firearm in his hands and firing multiple rounds in the middle of the street at a victim. Per arrest papers, the victim sustained serious bodily injuries. Officers recovered multiple shell casings from the area and found the vehicle's plates, which matched the suspect's vehicle and registration. Police then responded to an apartment complex in the 4700 block of Prominent Mesa View — the registered address for the vehicle — and observed a man matching the suspect's description carrying bags from the Subaru. Following their observations, they arrested the suspect. Brodus is now facing charges of First-Degree Assault and has been booked into the El Paso County Criminal Justice Center. He is set to appear in court on Thursday, June 12, at 1:30 p.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Yahoo
One injured in shooting near Austin Bluffs and Academy
(COLORADO SPRINGS) — The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) tells FOX21 News a person was injured in a shooting that happened on Wednesday, June 11. CSPD said police were called to the area in the 4200 block of Austin Bluffs Parkway, just east of North Academy Boulevard. Police tell FOX21 News one person was injured and taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. CSPD said one person was detained, and police are still investigating. FOX21 News has a crew on the way to the scene and will update this article as we learn more. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Yahoo
CSPD gets donation of kits for autistic people in need
(COLORADO SPRINGS) — The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) said last week, officers got a donation of 30 kits designed to support autistic individuals in moments when they need extra comfort and care. The Academy Optimist Club donated the kits to CSPD, and each kit includes: Sound-dampening headphones to help reduce overwhelming noise Dark glasses to minimize the glare of bright lights, especially during nighttime emergencies A snuggle blanket to provide soothing sensory input and promote relaxation A communication board with a dry-erase for non-verbal individuals, along with a picture board on the reverse side in both English and Spanish, to help facilitate communication between officers and the community CSPD said other items include a silicone bracelet, a variety of fidget toys, autism awareness stickers for vehicles and front doors, and information materials connecting families to other helpful resources. According to CSPD, the kits will be distributed to School Resource Officers and Community Response Team officers, ensuring they are available when needed most. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
