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Police release body cam footage from fatal officer-involved-shooting

The Colorado Springs Police Department released the body cam footage Friday of the officer-involved shooting on Dec. 14 that left 33-year-old Dean Ackerman dead.

On Dec. 13 at 9:43 p.m., the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office received a call from a woman who said her husband was “acting suicidal” and armed with a gun pointed at his head.

When deputies responded, the husband had already left the residence, and a “be on the lookout” notification was sent out.

At 11 p.m., Colorado Springs police officers responded to an active shooter in the 3800 block of Astrozon Boulevard. The individual who called told police his cousin’s restaurant was being shot at.

A pickup truck was found in the nearby parking lot with Ackerman inside, holding a gun to his head.

In the body cam footage released, multiple police officers are heard ordering Ackerman to step out of the truck and to drop the gun, at which point he began to make suicidal threats. Police then backed away, attempting to de-escalate the situation.

“Drop the gun, man,” one officer can be heard saying. “What’s going on? Talk to me.”

The man responds, telling police “this is it.” Police continue to talk to Ackerman, telling him  several times that “it’s not worth it.”

Ackerman was determined to be the husband the reporting party initially called about. Additional units was called to the scene due to the active danger to the community and the his ability to drive away from the area.

The department says officers negotiated with him for nearly an hour, during which he fired his handgun multiple times inside his vehicle. Ackerman could also be heard screaming from inside his truck in the footage while officers talk to him. At this point, police asked if the store nearby could be evacuated.

“Nothing crazy has happened at this point, you’ve had a bad day and I’m willing to talk to you about it,” another officer can be heard saying to Ackerman.

After 55 minutes, Ackerman stepped out of his truck with his gun still pressed to his head. One minute later, police say one of the officers on scene deployed a “non-lethal 40-millimeter dense foam round,” striking the man in the stomach, causing him to collapse to the ground while still holding the gun.

Several rounds of pepper spray were also deployed in an attempt to get the man to drop the weapon. In response, Ackerman allegedly fired two shots toward a group of officers and a nearby business. Seven seconds later, he fired another round at officers standing closer to him.

At this point, Colorado Springs officers fired back, striking him multiple times before rendering medical aid, including CPR, which was unsuccessful due to the extent of his injuries. He was pronounced dead on the scene.

A loaded handgun was recovered by investigators.

Per Colorado law, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office will be handling the investigation into the police officer’s use of force. Those findings will be sent to the Fourth Judicial District, District Attorney’s Office to determine if the use of force was justified.

Eight officers with the Sand Creek division were placed on paid leave following the incident.

A still taken from the body cam footage of the Colorado Springs Police Department officer-involved-shooting on Dec. 14 that left 33-year-old Dean Ackerman dead. (Courtesy of the Colorado Springs Police Department)
A still taken from the body cam footage of the Colorado Springs Police Department officer-involved-shooting on Dec. 14 that left 33-year-old Dean Ackerman dead. (Courtesy of the Colorado Springs Police Department)


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