15-Year-Old Charged With Attempted Murder Of Denver Cop

Denver, CO – A 15-year-old suspect is behind bars for the attempted murder of a Denver police officer.

The series of events leading up to the teen’s arrest began at approximately 9 p.m. on March 21, when ShotSpotter technology detected 36 rounds of gunfire in the Whittier neighborhood, KDVR reported.

Police said the shots were coming from the 3000-block alley between North Williams Street and North Gilpin, Denver District Attorney Beth McCann’s office said in a press release on Wednesday.

Officers responded to the area and spotted three males out walking.

According to an arrest affidavit, two of the males turned away when the officers approached and appeared to be reaching to pull something out of their waistbands, CBS News reported.

The officers ordered them to stop, and the two suspects complied.

But the third suspect allegedly continued to walk away from police.

That’s when an officer noticed he had something heavy tucked into the front pocket of his sweatshirt, according to court documents.

The officer was concerned the object was a firearm, so he moved in behind the suspect and grabbed his elbows in an attempt to squeeze them together so he couldn’t reach forward, CBS News reported.

The effort was unsuccessful and the suspect allegedly managed to reach into his shirt pocket and fired off one shot at the officer.

The officer was not struck and quickly took the 15-year-old shooter to the ground, according to court documents.

Police said the suspect still had his hand inside his pocket while he was on the ground, so the officer drew his weapon and held his attacker at gunpoint while calling for backup, CBS News reported.

Additional officers rushed to his aid and quickly removed the firearm from the suspect without further problems.

The teen was subsequently taken into custody.

His identity was not immediately released.

Police said the weapon the suspect used in the attack was a Glock 19X with a 17-round magazine, KUSA reported.

The weapon malfunctioned during the shooting when a spent casing lodged in the gun and jammed it, according to investigators.

The teen also allegedly had a Glock 30S in his front pocket, KUSA reported.

Investigators said they found two more guns near the fence where the other two male suspects were stopped by officers.

The 15-year-old gunman has been charged with two counts of attempted murder of a peace officer, possessing a dangerous weapon, having a prohibited large capacity magazine, handgun possession by a juvenile, disorderly conduct discharge of firearm, and obstructing a peace officer.

He also faces sentencing enhancements for being an aggravated and violent juvenile offender, McCann’s office said.