Police: Officers shot 2, believing escaped inmate was in car

Source: Associated Press


Kathleen Foody, Associated Press
Updated 7:53 pm, Thursday, March 22, 2018

DENVER (AP) — Denver police officers who opened fire killing one man and injuring another after a high-speed car chase erroneously believed an escaped inmate was a passenger, authorities said Thursday.

The driver was killed and a passenger survived, but police quickly learned that the man they were hunting, Mauricio Venzor-Gonzalez, was not inside, Denver Police Commander Barb Carver told reporters. Police had released few details about the Monday evening shooting until Thursday, but described both men in the car as "associates" of Venzor-Gonzalez.

Authorities still have not found the 23-year-old, who faces charges of attempted murder of a police officer in November.

Venzor-Gonzalez escaped from Denver sheriff's deputies on Monday morning during a visit to a Denver hospital. The sheriff's department has released few details about how he was able to escape, but Sheriff Patrick Firman did say Monday that Venzor-Gonzalez had an appointment for a medical issue and medical transportation is typically handled by two deputies. It's not clear if he was wearing any restraints.


Read more: https://www.chron.com/news/crime/article/Police-Officers-shot-men-believing-loose-inmate-12774504.php