Editor’s note: Anyone struggling with a mental health concern can call or text 988 — 24/7 — to reach the 988 Colorado Mental Health Line, which offers free and confidential support. You can also visit to live chat.
The fatal shooting by police of was a justified use of force, according to a decision letter from Colorado’s 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.
was shot by police after he raised a weapon at officers who were part of a lengthy negotiation with Hansen, according to the letter. Hansen made suicidal statements at the scene, the document says.
The judicial districtap Critical Incident Response Team, including a Westminster detective and investigators independent of the Broomfield Police Department, investigated the shooting, according to the April letter.
“Hansen’s decision to point what appeared to be a firearm directly at the officers left those officers with no alternative but to respond with lethal force,” the letter says, adding: “The officers’ actions here were difficult but necessary, and certainly both reasonable and justified. Consequently, no charges will be filed against them.”
Around 9 a.m. June 5, a worker from A Precious Child, on 118th Avenue west of Main Street, called 911 and reported that Hansen “separated from his employment and was threatening self-harm,” the letter says.
The reporting party advised that Hansen knew police had been called and indicated he was glad “because he was going to have them kill him,” the letter says.
An officer responded to the scene and spoke with Hansen, who was seated on the curb. Hansen told the officer that he did not have any family or money, was living in his car and said, “I just want it over, I just want it done,” according to the letter.
When the officer instructed him to keep his hands up, Hansen said, “No, I’d rather you just shoot me,” the letter says. The conversation continued as additional officers began arriving in the area, according to the letter.
About 9:30 a.m., Hansen stood up with a weapon in his hand. Officers commanded him to put the gun down, and Hansen continued making suicidal statements, the letter says.
A member of the crisis negotiation team arrived to continue efforts to deescalate the situation, and negotiations with Hansen “lasted for hours,” the letter says.
Around 12:48 p.m., Hansen turned toward a group of officers and said, “You look like you’re pretty good,” according to the letter. Hansen raised his left arm and pointed the weapon at the officers. Three officers fired their weapons; four shots were discharged, the letter says.
Hansen sustained several gunshot wounds, and he was evaluated by North Metro Fire Rescue on the scene and was pronounced dead. An autopsy conducted by a forensic pathologist with the Adams County coroner’s office determined Hansen’s cause of death to be a gunshot wound to the head, according to the letter.
The investigation showed that the weapon Hansen had in the incident was a SNR357 CO2 powered revolver, with “no distinguishing marks to identify it as a (less)-lethal” weapon, the letter says.
The actions of the officers were reasonable and justified, the letter says.
“This was a tragic situation and the outcome, too, was tragic,” the letter says, adding: “It is clear that (Hansen) was suicidal that day.”
