The Colorado Springs Police Department has made public the footage of an officer-involved shooting incident that occurred earlier in June. The shooting left a man charged with first-degree assault.
Police officers were on foot patrol in front of a business along South Nevada Avenue at around 1 a.m. on June 9 when they heard a disturbance nearby. As they approached, they saw a man, identified as Al’Morion Germany, pointing a gun at a woman before hitting her with the weapon.
One of the officers drew a taser while identifying themselves, but another man intervened and chased Germany. When Germany pointed a weapon at both the officer and the man, the officer shouted “gun” and ordered Germany to drop the weapon. Germany began to run away, but officers pursued him and ordered him to drop the gun.
As the pursuit continued, one of the officers, Benjamin Hengel, fired three rounds at Germany after he pointed his gun at both himself and another man. Germany was hit by two of the bullets while attempting to escape. After the shooting, he ran across Pikes Peak Avenue but followed officer commands to get on the ground and was subsequently arrested and charged with first-degree assault.
Germany was taken to the hospital, where he was treated for serious but non-life-threatening injuries. During the medical attention, he repeatedly begged not to be allowed to die, but the officers reassured him.
Security footage from nearby businesses captured the altercation, showing Germany assaulting the woman, brandishing the weapon, and then fleeing from the scene. Officers also recovered a loaded 10 mm Glock handgun from where the suspect was shot.
The incident is currently under investigation by the Colorado Springs Police Department.