Police body camera footage recently released after a nine-month investigation, shows the deadly officer involved shooting that occurred on August 18th, 2021, after 33-year-old Lucas Antonio Salas drew a firearm on pursuing officers.

On the morning of the 18th, officers from the Northglenn Police Department located Mr. Salas at an apartment complex inside their jurisdiction. Mr. Salas, wanted on parole violations fled the apartment complex, leading several police officers on a high-speed chase into Thornton, Colorado. Reports have indicated during the chase; Mr. Salas discharged his firearm at pursuing officers in the area of East 120th Avenue and Washington Street.

Eventually, the chase halted after Mr. Salas lost control of his vehicle, crashing into a ditch, and deeming his vehicle inoperable. As shown in the footage, Mr. Salas led officers on a foot chase through a golf course in Thornton. Officers are heard several times throughout the footage, commanding Mr. Salas to stop; however he proceeded to ignore these commands.

Officers closed the distance between themselves and Mr. Salas, where Mr. Salas presented a .40 caliber Smith and Wesson handgun, firing a single round toward perusing officers. As a result, three officers discharged their service weapons, striking Mr. Salas and fatally wounding him. Earlier this month (May 2022), the district attorney's office announced that the officers involved in the shooting will not be charged, deeming the shooting justified.

No officers were injured during this incident.