Editor’s note: Denver District Attorney John Walsh ruled in a May 25, 2025, decision letter that no criminal charges would be filed against Denver police officers David Arnold, John Wickiser, Michael Cao and Isabelle Jeffris in the fatal March 20, 2025, shooting of Jose Medina. Read the decision letter .
A man died after he was shot six times by Denver Police Department officers in the city’s Cole neighborhood Thursday night, police officials said.
Officers were responding to a call about a person with a gun at around 6:25 p.m. when they encountered the man, later identified as 57-year-old Jose Medina, in the 3500 block alley behind Annunciation Catholic School, said at a briefing.
The alley is between Lafayette and North Humboldt streets.
Medina was holding what officers believe to be a handgun, and officers ordered him to drop the gun before he made a “threatening gesture,” and officers shot him, Thomas said.
That gun was later determined to be an airsoft pistol designed to mimic a Smith and Wesson handgun.
Four of the five officers on scene fired their guns, . They fired a total of 16 bullets, hitting Medina six times.
Officers began providing medical aid before an ambulance arrived and took Medina to Denver Health. He underwent surgery and was said to be in critical condition Thursday night before police
No officers were injured in the shooting.
The shooting will be investigated by the Colorado State Patrol, Colorado Bureau of Investigation and DPD’s Homicide Unit, and the results will be presented to the Denver District Attorney’s Office.
