By Aldo Svaldi
The Denver Post
AURORA, Colo. — The Aurora Police Department released a 911 recording and bodycam footage Thursday of the fatal shooting by two of its officers on May 4 of Jose Luis Rodriguez-Balderrama, a suspect in an earlier shooting at an apartment near 1400 Clinton St.
The victim of the original shooting called 911 to report that Rodriguez-Balderrama, a 28-year-old Aurora resident, was sitting on the couch of his apartment with a gun pointed at his own head. Shots can be heard and the victim cries “Ow, he just shot me in the leg” and later reports to the dispatcher that he is hiding in a nearby apartment.
Aurora officers tried to pull over a driver in a red Mustang, the description given for Rodriguez-Balderrama’s car, but called off the chase after a short pursuit. When officers arrive at the scene, the shooting victim shows them his injury and provides more detail on the incident, saying that Rodriquez-Balderrama was a friend.
Click below to see full video.
Police officers are seen waving off neighbors telling them to return to their homes unless they were witnesses. During the interview with the victim, people nearby are heard shouting “He is here” and “He in the alley.” Officers run to the opening between the row of apartments and Rodriguez-Balderrama can be seen peering into a window near the victim’s apartment with a gun in hand.
One of the officers shouts “Jose, Jose” and then something else. They open fire, hitting him. Emergency responders arrive to treat Rodriguez-Balderrama, who is still alive. A Glock 22 with 40-caliber ammunition is shown at the scene. The gun was modified to hold more than 20 rounds and fire automatically, according to Aurora police.
The release is part of a new information-sharing policy by interim Chief Heather Morris that seeks to provide more details of critical incidents involving officers within 30 days. “The goal is to increase our agency’s transparency and accountability,” she said on the video.
Morris said the officers involved in the shooting have been assigned to restricted, non-patrol duty. The department’s Major Crime Homicide Unit is investigating the initial nonfatal shooting and the 18th Judicial District Critical Incident Response Team is studying the officer shooting to determine if the officers’ actions complied with state law.
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