Denver Cops Open Fire On Car Full Of Teens And Kill 17-Year-Old Girl

Candles burn in front of participants at a vigil near the scene of the early morning fatal shooting of a young woman who hit and injured a Denver Police Department officer while driving a stolen vehicle Monday, Jan. ... Candles burn in front of participants at a vigil near the scene of the early morning fatal shooting of a young woman who hit and injured a Denver Police Department officer while driving a stolen vehicle Monday, Jan. 26, 2015, in northeast Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

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.

Latest Livewire
Comments
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Associate Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: