DA rules fatal shooting of man by RTD security guards justified

Denver District Attorney Beth McCann ruled Friday that RTD station security guards were justified when they fatally shot a man who had pointed a gun at them.

On a Wednesday night in late August, contract RTD security officers Stephanie Suttmiller and Jesse Opp approached Armando Vigil, 43, as he slept on the ground at the Sheridan Boulevard rail stop south of West Colfax Avenue.

As the two officers got near, Vigil turned toward Suttmiller, who noticed a handgun magazine in front of him and a gun sticking out of his pocket. She shouted “gun” and told Vigil to keep his hands where she could see them, according to the decision letter.

Vigil grabbed his gun and pointed it at Suttmiller. Both officers shot. While backing away, Suttmiller stumbled and fell to the ground. Opp, who had moved for cover, saw her on the ground. Thinking she was shot and still in danger, he fired additional shots, according to the decision letter.

The officers fired a total of 29 shots. Medical examiners determined Vigil was hit by 14 bullets, according to the letter.

Video surveillance showed that the officers had fired about 20 seconds after contacting Vigil, according to the letter. The shooting lasted for 12 seconds.

Vigil’s blood alcohol concentration had been 0.262 at the time, according to the letter. Vigil’s brother told The Denver Post that Vigil lived a troubled life, struggling with drug and alcohol addiction and violence. His grandmother — who was his support system — died shortly before Vigil was shot.

Vigil’s gun was not loaded. The magazine next to him had four rounds in it. A backpack next to him had another handgun magazine with eight rounds, three loose rounds, 9.6 grams of methamphetamine, 1.9 grams of heroin and a digital scale.