Colorado Springs The bullet that killed Colorado Springs police officer Jared Jen sen was fired from less than an inch away, said Dr. Robert Bux, El Paso County coroner.
The fatal shot from a .44-caliber Magnum on Feb. 22 entered Jensen’s left cheek, leaving soot and tattooing, then traveled to the back of his head, “obliterating” three major arteries in the neck, Bux said.
The coroner’s testimony came Tuesday during a preliminary hearing for Jeremy Lamberth, who is charged with premeditated first-degree murder. The district attorney’s office has not said whether it will seek the death penalty.
Jensen, dressed in street clothes, was trying to arrest Lamberth, whom he had spotted at a bus stop east of downtown. Lamberth, considered armed and dangerous, was wanted for allegedly stabbing his sister 13 times on Feb. 2.
Judge Larry Schwartz will decide whether there is enough evidence for trial. On Tuesday, the judge heard three accounts of the shooting. While witnesses described hearing two shots, police recovered only one bullet fragment – from the hooded jacket worn by Jensen.
Detective Joe Matiatos said he interviewed three eyewitnesses. One said she heard the first shot and looked to see a gunman stand over Jensen, who was on his back, and fire without bending over from a distance of 18 to 24 inches away.
A second witness said she heard the first shot, then looked and saw Jensen on his back and the gunman bend down to shoot Jensen. A third witness said that after the first shot, Jensen threw up his hands and the second shot happened while the officer was either falling or standing.
Bux said he could not determine from the autopsy which position Jensen was in when shot.
Detective Richard Gysin said police found Jensen’s badge attached to a silver chain, his police radio and a pair of handcuffs with one side opened, near his body.
Detective Olav Chaney, who headed a three-detective undercover team to root out crime in target areas, said Jensen radioed about 10:40 a.m. that he had an eye on Lamberth.
“We made the assumption he was going to keep an eye on him. We were only a minute or so away,” Chaney said of himself and the third team member, Tracy Fox.
“It was a common practice for us to wait for each other and or call for patrol,” Chaney said.
But, he added, an officer often has to make split-second decisions. “You have to understand, in our line of work you cannot always wait for cover. You cannot always have another officer there,” Chaney said.
The hearing is scheduled to resume today at 8:30 a.m.
Staff writer Erin Emery can be reached at 719-522-1360 or eemery@denverpost.com.
