Police officers in Denver reportedly opened fire Monday morning on a car full of teenagers and killed a 17-year-old girl.
Police alleged the girl, identified as Jessica Hernandez, was driving a stolen car and had hit one of the officers who opened fire, according to the Denver Post. She was taken to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The officers have been put on leave while the investigation takes place.
The Post reported there were four other teenagers in the car at the time. The AP reported that none of them was injured.
Denver Police Chief Robert White said two officers fired multiple shots into the vehicle after the car hit one of them in the leg. The officer was taken to the hospital for his injuries, according to the Post.
Police did not say whether anyone in the car had guns or other weapons, the Post reported.
The shooting will be investigated by the Internal Affairs Bureau, the Office of the Independent Monitor and the District Attorney, according to the paper.
The Post noted that this was the third time in recent months that the police force has shot a suspect who was allegedly using cars as weapons.
Update: A previous version of this post said the girl’s age was 16, based on the AP’s reporting of the shooting. It has been updated to reflect that authorities said the girl’s age was 17.
I would say given this statement, its time Denver PD had some new training on how to engage suspects in stolen vehicles, to prevent injury and/or death on either side.
I defy anyone to deny that they haven’t, at least once, wanted to shoot a teenager.
shoot happy cops everywhere? seems like a trend,
I deny that I have ever wanted to shoot a teenager unless loud rap music at a stoplight was involved.
Double so if the kid is a white kid