On Monday, December 6, 2021, at approximately 10:00 AM, the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) was notified of an officer-involved shooting by an outside law enforcement agency in the area of I25 and County Line Road. Detectives with the Violent Crimes/Homicide Unit responded to the scene and assumed responsibility for the investigation. While it is early in the investigation, CSPD is able to provide the following initial information.
The Colorado State Patrol (CSP) attempted to stop a stolen motor vehicle involved in a recent eluding investigation in Castlerock. The suspect failed to stop, and State Patrol pursued the suspect southbound on I25. Just south of County Line Road in El Paso County, the suspect lost control of the vehicle and struck a guard rail on the interstate. The suspect exited the vehicle and crossed the median on foot into the northbound lanes of I25 while the now unoccupied stolen vehicle was still in motion in the southbound lanes. The pursuing trooper pinned the unoccupied vehicle against a barrier with their marked SUV to stop it from traveling any further. The suspect then entered an occupied vehicle in the northbound lanes and threatened the driver with a handgun in an attempt to flee apprehension.
The trooper also crossed the interstate on foot and initiated commands to the suspect. The citizen driver exited the vehicle leaving the armed suspect alone. The trooper gave multiple commands to the suspect at which time the suspect attempted to take control of the citizen’s vehicle. The suspect pointed a handgun at the trooper which resulted in the trooper firing his duty weapon at least one time at the suspect. At this time another CSP Trooper arrived, and the two troopers removed the suspect from the vehicle and took the suspect into custody without further incident. Neither the troopers, citizens or the suspect involved in this incident were injured.
The suspect has been identified as 30-year-old Amanda Yvonne Flores. Flores was arrested for First Degree Assault of a Peace Officer, Aggravated Robbery, Vehicular Eluding, and Possession of a Weapon by a Previous Offender. Flores was booked into the El Paso County Jail.
The Trooper has been placed on administrative leave per CSP Policy.
In accordance with Colorado Revised Statute 16-2.5-301, the Colorado Springs Police Department is the lead investigative agency for this officer-involved shooting. This is an ongoing investigation and information will be released as appropriate. All information regarding the deadly force investigation will come from the Colorado Springs Police Department. Information regarding the law enforcement officers involved in this incident will come from their respective agencies.
This is still an active and on-going investigation. Anyone with information or who is a witness to this investigation is asked to call the Colorado Springs Police Department at (719) 444-7000; or if you wish to remain anonymous, you may call the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at (719) 634-STOP (7867) or 1-800-222-8477.