An Adams County jury on Thursday convicted a 29-year-old man of second-degree murder in the shooting of an Aurora police officer, rejecting a more serious charge.
Brian Allen Washington could still spend the rest of his life in prison for killing Officer Mike Thomas on Sept. 20, 2006.
The jury rejected the defense plea that Washington, who has an IQ of 84, was legally insane. It also rejected the charge of premeditated first-degree murder, which carries a mandatory life sentence without parole.
Washington, who already is serving a 26-year sentence for shooting a woman two days before he shot Thomas, will be sentenced April 6 for what Aurora Police Chief Dan Oates hopes “will be for the rest of his life.”
About 30 Aurora police officers attended the verdict reading.
“I never met Mike Thomas, but we feel we got to know him over the course of two and a half years leading up to this trial,” said Adams County chief trial deputy David Young, who has tried more than 25 murder cases. “Everything he fought for for 24 years as a police officer was upheld in this case. Brian Washington will be held accountable for his actions.”
The 17-day trial concluded Tuesday. District Attorney Don Quick surmised that the jury’s 17 hours of deliberations centered on the difference between first- and second-degree murder.
The jury also convicted Washington of attempted first-degree assault, as well as second-degree assault for striking Officer Scott Osgood, who subdued Washington after the shooting.
Washington could be sentenced to 48 years for the murder and up to 16 years for each assault charge.
Young said he will ask for the maximum penalties and for Washington to serve consecutive sentences. He also will argue that the sentences begin after Washington completes his 26-year sentence for shooting a woman in her car at East 33rd Avenue and Pontiac Street in Denver two days before he killed Thomas.
Thomas, 52 and a decorated detective, was wearing civilian clothing and driving his own car from one training session to another around noon on Sept. 20, 2006, when he was shot and killed by Washington at East Montview Boulevard and Peoria Street in Aurora.
Although doctors from the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo testified that Washington was sane at the time of the shooting, defense attorney Sharlene Reynolds said Thursday that she had hoped her client would be sent to the state mental hospital instead of to prison.
“I am disappointed that Brian isn’t going to the state mental hospital to receive the help he truly needs,” she said. “Brian doesn’t understand the magnitude of what has happened and the effect it will have on him.”
Police Chief Oates thanked the Adams County DA’s office for its work in the case.
“We all take an oath to uphold the rule of law,” he said. “We accept the jury’s verdict. But I don’t think there can ever be closure for the Aurora Police Department.”
Mike McPhee: 303-954-1409 or mmcphee@denverpost.com
