The Colorado Springs Police Department shared video of a deadly officer-involved shooting that occurred on the afternoon of Feb. 15.
Colorado Springs police said they responded to the 3100 block of Illinois Avenue just before 5 p.m. for a call of a family disturbance. This is near Edison Elementary School, near Hancock and Fillmore.
Before they arrived, police said two people involved in that family disturbance left the home where the disturbance was reported, leaving someone inside with an armed suspect. Police said everyone involved was a member of the same family.
“Due to safety concerns for the family member still inside the home, officers began making safety planning and arrangements to contact the residence inside the home,” said CSPD spokesperson Ira Cronin.
When they eventually came in contact with that individual, Cronin said the suspect was still armed. On Wednesday, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office identified that suspect as 45-year-old Derrick Wardle. Wardle invited the police to enter the home when they arrived. He refused to come out but asked them to come in several times.
When they turned the corner the video showed Wardle standing there with a rifle in his hand. In the body camera footage you can see Wardle bring his second hand to the gun and begin to raise it.
“The suspect did not follow the officer’s verbal commands to drop the gun and raised the gun toward officers. In response, two officers fired at least one shot, striking the suspect,” Cronin told reporters. “Officers began providing immediate medical aid.”
In the video several gunshots can be heard ringing out from the two officers who began entering the home. After the shots were fired the officers began trying to help Wardle and called paramedics, but Wardle died on scene.
Police say they recovered a loaded rifle.
CSPD said no officers were harmed and all parties involved are accounted for.
Those two officers who reportedly shot the suspect were placed on administrative leave, per policy, and the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office will investigate what happened.
