DENVER—A knife-wielding man shot and killed by police had made suicidal actions and statements before officers fired, the Denver district attorney concluded.
In a report Thursday, District Attorney Mitch Morrissey said no charges will be filed against officers who shot Odiceo Valencia, 45, on May 17 after he allegedly refused to drop the knife and kept moving toward one of the officers, even after he was shot with a non-lethal stun gun and pepper balls.
“For reasons known only to Valencia, his suicidal actions and statements prior to police involvement and during the confrontation are consistent with an intention to force the police to shoot him—commonly referred to as ‘suicide by cop,’ ” Morrissey concluded.
The officers were Chris Pappas and Chris Cesarec.
Witnesses have said police shouted commands to him in English, and that Valencia knew English but was not fluent.
A coroner’s report showed that Valencia had cocaine, amphetamines and alcohol in his system.
Some relatives witnessed the shooting, which happened the day they were celebrating the first Communion of Valencia’s daughter. Valencia’s wife had obtained a restraining order against him, but he attended the celebration anyway.
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Information from: Rocky Mountain News,
