Hello, I'm Jeff Sabotto, the police chief in Fort Collins. Today I'm releasing body warn camera footage from an officer involved shooting on July 21st, 2024. On this Sunday afternoon, our officers were dispatched to a single vehicle crash in which the vehicle had rolled over. Prior to our arrival, the caller told us that the driver had exited the vehicle and began walking away with a weapon. That weapon turned out to be an AR-15 style rifle. Our officers ultimately engaged this subject and there was an exchange of gunfire. During this exchange of gunfire, one of our officers was shot. He was quickly extracted so that he could get medical attention. The subject then ran away towards the Grand View Cemetery along the Fort Collins golf course. Other officers engaged this subject inside the cemetery and ultimately shot and killed him. I want to remind the viewers that this was on a Sunday afternoon with many people out for a round of golf or simply on a walk. This call quickly unfolded as you will see. Our officers were responding thinking they were going to help someone who'd been in a crash and instead they were met by someone who wanted to bring violence to our community. This call for service clearly illustrates the professionalism, the training and the bravery of officers of Fort Collins Police Services. Is there any kids in the car? Address of the emergency. Hi. It's on the corner of Mountain and Brian. Okay. Can you tell me the phone number you're calling from, please? Okay. Tell me exactly what happened. There was a rollover vehicle accident. Um, the passenger or the driver appears to be awake. Are there other people in the car? No. Okay. Can you tell if anyone is injured? Um, he's talking and I told him to stay in the car. Um, he is bleeding from his head, but he is talking. But I told him to stay in the car. Is it just a case? Yes, a single vehicle. Okay. Are you still Are you still okay? Yeah, he's still awake, but he is bleeding and his eyes are and he's kind of crumping over. What kind? Sir, are you still okay? I think I he might have just lost consciousness, but he is bleeding. Okay. And his neck. Okay. Yeah. Keep him still. Tell him not to move at all. Now, tell me, what kind of vehicle is that? Uh, it's a BMW. What color? A silver. And is it on its wheels or is it on? Yeah. Um, it's now it's on its wheel, but it's fully rare. Uh, it was 100% full. Did you see exactly what happened? Yes. I I I mean, I saw the car flip. I don't know how it happened, but I saw the car, but it was only that one vehicle. He didn't hit another car or something else. Sir, are you still okay? Okay. He's still contact. He did not hit another car. Yes, he's still contact. He's still talking to you. Okay. Stay on the line for me. I've got to update the responders. They're on the way. Uh, just hold on the phone. Don't. Okay. Am I back with I've got lots of help on the way. How's So, hey, sir. Um, I left the scene because the guy got out of the car and has a very large gun. I'm sorry. The driver of the car has a gun. Yes, the driver got out of the car. He has a big gun. I don't know. All of us. By the way, I ran back to my house. What's he doing with it? He I don't know. He just got out. I was like, don't get out of the car. I just shot out and has a gun. Okay. Okay. Like that big. I'm going to update my responders. Hold on the line. Okay. Stay. Ma'am, are you still there? Yes. Okay. Yeah. I've got all my responders updated. Did you see what he was doing with the gun? What did he point it at anyone? No, he was just holding it. Another guy went around to the passenger side. And I was on the driver's side and I was like, "Stay in the car, sir. Like, help is on the way." And and then the passenger started saying like, "You guys, you guys." And then he got out of the car and holding this big gun. He was not pointing it at anybody. Okay. He had two car um two dogs in the car also. And then I just started running because Good. Okay. Excellent. Yeah, I've updated all of my officers. I've got to talk to them more on the radio, so I'm going to let you go. What is your name? Thank you so much for calling this in. Uh we've got officers and responders in the area uh about to contact him. Okay. And they need a statement. I live like a block away, but I had my 5-year-old with me, so I went home. But yeah, that's perfect. Thank you so much. I know this was a a difficult uh situation there, but thank you so much for the information. They Yeah, it looks like they're on the scene now. If they need a statement from you, they might give you a call. All right. Thank you. Okay. Thanks. Yeah, my name is one of the station PFA volunteers. He's right there against that tree with an AR-15. AR15. King 301. They're saying he went westbound behind a tree with an AR-15. I'm in Mountain and Brian feel the fire is going to be a little west. [Applause] Edward Ocean Paul 149 almost the car and said this and grab it. Okay. Okay. 31. He's wearing a black shirt, blue jeans. He's still walking westbound towards the cemetery. I cannot see the rifle from here. There's a ton of people walking around. roadside down. All right, we're going to approach. I'm going to turn my lights off and [Music] we'll see if we can get somebody to block off the next road to the west. Looks like he might be drinking a beer as well. He's walking to the cemetery right now. Oh [ __ ] [ __ ] One. He's pointing his rifle at us. He's pointing his rifle right at us. Is that Shots fired? Shots fired. Is he down? Sam, are you shooting at our car? Rapid deploy SWAT. I got hit my arm or something. My right arm. Okay. Okay. Back up. Sam 204. I need a bear cat to me now. Officer's been hit in the arm. Okay. Throw throw a tourniquet on. Yep. He's still behind the tree. Yeah. [ __ ] [Music] Next unit. I need eyes on the suspect. I can't see him. Okay, he's running to the cemetery. Hey, I need a car up to me now. I need a car up to me. 1734 to Xcraft the officer. Suspect running into the park. Car down there, but the wreck. Come to me now. Immediately. Cross over the median. Hey, car that just came westbound. The suspect's behind you in the cemetery. Get him out of here. Go, go, go. Get out of here. Go, go, go, go. Sam4, I need all units that are available. Just start setting up a perimeter around the park. I need the Bearcat to me now. Hey. Yeah. Get down. Get Get behind that tree. I don't know. Oh, I get some cover, man. He just shot up my car and he hit uh one of our officers. One of your officers in hurt. Yeah, we got him extracted. Do you want Do you want our SWAT team, too? Uh I don't know, man. Give me just a second. Okay. See what we on the west side of the cemetery instead of containment around the cemetery. We got coordinates here mountain and I'll start working on promise. Great. I got you. Okay, hold on. We're set up on the the cemetery entrance on the east side of the drone. Sam 204. Suspect is a white male, blue shirt, blue jeans, carrying a rifle. Last seen westbound from mountain into the cemetery. You want to try and I need the bearcat to mountain and fry. Mountain and fry. Oh, I got I see him back 14 channel. Zebra 311. We just saw him. He's running eastbound towards us. He's on the eastbound living inside CSO tails. Okay, guys. Get get some cover. We got a blue car coming in. Anybody on with the drone? Okay, I see him. I see him. Careful. He's pointing back. Get some cover. Okay. Yeah, he's right there. Mel is in the park. He's pointing back at his rifle towards us. [Music] center of the park. Okay. He's going to be What's this right here? Is that him? That looks like him. Yeah, that looks like him. No, you every just hold your spot. Don't go into the park where he's at. recoverable. [Music] Yeah. 424 287. We got eyes on him. Watching south through the stand. Shots. Shots fired. Blue shot away. Suspect fell down. We're not sure if we hit him or [Music] not. Shots fired. Down. Trying to approach. Hey, hold up. Where you guys going to approach you from laying down behind me? Okay, let's get some cover here. Where are you at? We are west of town approximately 40 yard which is cemetery. Okay, we're going to be approaching from mountain. Just tell us which way to go. We still are on the southward. We're about 20 yard. Okay. But is he down here? He fell out. Is the suspect down? Do you have eyes on him? is down, but we have been. Okay, hold right there. Let's get the Bearcat here and then we'll push up. So, bear. Okay, I need the Bearcat to pull into custody. You can send medical on the south. We're going to jump out of the bearcat now. Okay. Hey, if he does anything, then let us know. We're going to pop that on. No one. Okay. Okay. You guys ready? Yes, sir. My hands ready. Yep. Okay. Onward. No movement. Don't move. Go ahead. Grab him. Grab another one. All right. Start. Uh, CPR or first aid. Yeah. First, you have a med bag in there. Why don't you coordinate this? I know that that video was difficult to watch. Here at Fort Collins Police Services, we place a premium on transparency. That's why we do this. I want to give an update on the officer who was shot. He continues to heal and we hope that he'll be on the street serving our community again very soon. I also want to thank the deputy from Lar County Sheriff's Office and the officer from the Colorado State University Police Department who heard this call and showed up to assist us. Thank you. I also want to highlight that the district attorney's office has released an opinion letter deeming that all officers use of force on that day were justified. And finally, I just want to recognize all of those that have been affected by this call for service. from the members of Fort Collins Police Services who realized very clearly how close we came to losing one of our officers to those that live in the neighborhood or happen to be out on a walk or enjoying a round of golf on a Sunday afternoon for counts. We certainly appreciate all your support and as you know if you ever need us give us a call.