November 5, 2021 Update
The Colorado Springs Police Department officers involved in the shooting on October 28, 2021, were Lieutenant Mark Chacon, Sergeant Jordan Hengst, Sergeant Jason Reeser, Officer Heather Mesmer, Officer Robert Comstock, and Officer Paul Hubbard. The Officers’ current assignments and years of service are as follow:
- Lieutenant Chacon has been employed as a sworn police officer with the Colorado Springs Police Department since July 2002 and is currently supervising the Downtown Area Response Team and The Homeless Outreach Teams.
- Sergeant Hengst has been employed as a sworn police officer with the Colorado Springs Police Department since March 2008 and is currently assigned to the Motors Unit.
- Sergeant Reeser has been employed as a sworn police officer with the Colorado Springs Police Department since January 2004 and is currently assigned to the Motors Unit.
- Officer Mesmer has been employed as a sworn police officer with the Colorado Springs Police Department since July 2019 and is currently assigned to Gold Hill Patrol, Shift I.
- Officer Comstock has been employed as a sworn police officer with the Colorado Springs Police Department since October 2012 and is currently assigned to the K-9 unit.
- Officer Hubbard has been employed as a sworn police officer with the Colorado Springs Police Department since July 2017 and is currently assigned to Gold Hill Patrol, Shift I.
The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office is the lead investigative agency for this officer-involved shooting. This is an ongoing investigation, and all investigative updates will only be provided by the Sheriff's Office Public Information Office
Original Release from the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office
On October 28, 2021, at approximately 10:00 a.m., the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) Communications Center received a report of a man firing rounds from a handgun into an occupied vehicle in a parking lot located in the 1600 block of South Nevada Avenue. That location is a business area of Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Prior to CSPD officers arriving on scene, the vehicle in which rounds were fired into left the area and the suspect fled on foot.
Vanguard school officials reported an unknown male on school property to CSPD officers in the area. The male matched the description of the suspect in the shooting. CSPD officers first made contact with the suspect at the intersection of Hunter Avenue and South Corona Avenue. During the contact, the suspect pointed a firearm at the officers. At least one of the officers shot at least one round at the suspect. The suspect then continued to flee on foot with CSPD officers pursuing after the suspect.
The suspect again pointed his weapon at officers in the 1700 block of South Wahsatch Avenue. The suspect pointed the firearm at the officers at which time at least one of the officers fired at least one round toward the suspect. The suspect was injured from at least one of the rounds from the officers.
CSPD officers and medical personnel immediately rendered aid. The suspect was transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. No other community members or officers were injured in this incident. The 6 officers involved in this incident were placed on administrative leave per CSPD’s policy.
In accordance with Colorado Revised Statute 16-2.5-301, the El Paso County Sheriff's Office is the lead
investigative agency for this officer-involved shooting. This is an ongoing investigation and information will be released as appropriate. All updates, with the exception of naming the involved officers, will come from the El Paso County Sheriff's Office Public Information Office.
The Sheriff's Office is asking for anyone with information regarding this case to call our Investigations Tip Line, 719-520-6666.