Mom called for help before her son was shot and killed
The 29-year-old man who was shot and killed by Denver police this week had stolen a car, wrecked it and kicked in the back door of a family’s home in the hour before the shooting.
Denver Police Department Cmdr. Barb Archer on Friday released new details of the shooting Tuesday that killed Alexander Duran, who died from shotgun wounds. The officer who fired the shot, Cpl. John Albergotti, is a 19-year department veteran and is on desk duty pending the outcome of the investigation, she said.
Duran’s mother called police for help at 5:29 p.m. Tuesday because her son was damaging things in the house and threatening her with a knife, Archer said.
“His mom said he was erratic and out of control,” she said. “She was fearful for her safety and his.”
By the time officers arrived to the home, Duran had left.
At 5:55 p.m., the police received a 911 call about a carjacking on the 500 block of South Federal Boulevard. The suspect threatened the driver with a knife, Archer said. At 5:56 p.m., the carjacking suspect crashed in the 1800 block of South Bryant Street.
“No one else was injured,” Archer said. “He hit a trash can and jumped and ran.”
The driver then kicked in the back door of a home on the 1800 block of South Alcott Street where two adults and child were inside. The family fled the house and called 911, Archer said. They reported a man, who was a stranger to them, had burst into the home with a large butcher knife.
Police arrived at the home at 6:06 p.m. and found Duran hiding in a bedroom.
The officers set up so they could protect themselves while trying to negotiate with Duran. They had less lethal weapons to use, Archer said.
“Our goal is to end these peacefully and get the person into custody and get them the help they need,” she said.
Four officers inside the house, including Albergotti, spent 45 minutes talking to Duran, trying to build a rapport and negotiate a surrender, Archer said.
Instead, Duran burst from behind a closed door and charged the officers while brandishing the butcher knife. They were in a small hallway about 10 feet from the door when Duran charged, Archer said.
Duran was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The shooting remains under investigation, and Denver District Attorney Beth McCann will decide whether the shooting was legally justified.
There have been three officer-involved shootings since Monday in Colorado, and 11 total since Jan. 1.
Of the 11, six suspects and two sheriff’s deputies have died.