An Aurora police officer testified this morning that Brian Washington admitted shooting Aurora Police Detective Mike Thomas on Sept. 20.
Officer Scott Osgood said he was the first officer to arrive at the scene of Thomas’ shooting and found Thomas slumped over in his car. He said Washington walked up to him in the street and said, “I shot him,” Osgood testified during Washington’s preliminary hearing today in Adams County District Court in Brighton.
Thomas, 52 and a 24-year veteran of the police force, was shot while sitting in his car at a traffic light at Montview Boulevard and Peoria Street. Thomas was dressed in civilian clothes, driving his own car but on duty traveling to a training session when he was killed.
“You shot him? I asked,” Osgood testified. “He told me, ‘Yes, I shot him’.”
Osgood told the court he and Washington started scuffling until other officers arrived and took Washington into custody.
Washington, 27, is charged with first-degree murder for allegedly shooting Thomas. He also is charged with attempted murder for allegedly pulling a gun out during his scuffle with Osgood. Washington already has a felony drug conviction and could face life in prison if convicted of shooting Thomas.
Several members of Thomas’ family attended the hearing, including his daughter, Nicole Bantau, and his brother, Jim Thomas.
The hearing continues this afternoon.
