The shooting of a Fort Collins man by police was “justified” and “reasonable” in response to his threatening and dangerous actions, investigators said.
James Scheu, 49, the man who was shot by police on Jan. 25, will be charged with various felonies and misdemeanors, according to a Larimer County District Attorney’s Office media release.
The district attorney’s office reviewed the case to “determine whether any criminal laws were violated by any person during the incident” and whether the “degree of force” used by police was justifiable.
Fort Collins police were called to a home in the 3100 block of Longhorn Court on a report of a man who had been drinking, was armed, and was planning to kill himself.
When officers arrived, they heard shots being fired inside the home.
Police said Scheu came outside the home, fired at least two shots in the air from a .45 caliber handgun, and went back inside. He fired more shots inside the home and came out again and fired more shots outside.
An officer at the scene, Carrie Willis, believed “there was an imminent threat to the life and safety of the residents in the area,” as well as a threat to herself and fellow officers.
Wills fired one round from a rifle, hitting Scheu, who was downed and arrested.
No one else was hit by gunfire.
Investigators found 20 spent shell casings at the scene, and evidence that at least two nearby homes and a car were hit by shots Scheu fired, the release said.
The night of incident, Scheu was taken to Medical Center of the Rockies. Further details on his medical condition were not available.
The district attorney’s office found “the degree of physical force used by Officer Carrie Wills was justified.”
Kieran Nicholson: 303-954-1822 or knicholson@denverpost.com.
