The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office has released footage of the officer-involved shooting that took place on February 8th at Main Event in Highlands Ranch, where a deputy was responding to an active shooter call. The video is meant to give insight into the situation the deputy faced, as he courageously ran towards what was reported as gunfire, without any hesitation. The sheriff's office has expressed their belief that the deputy acted within legal bounds given the circumstances. "It is important to see the totality of the situation our deputy faced...We stand behind our deputy’s quick, courageous decision-making in the face of an immediate and grave threat," Sheriff Darren Weekly stated, according to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.
The individual who was fatally shot, 23-year-old Jalin Seabron, seemingly refused to comply with multiple commands to drop his weapon before turning towards the deputy. The law enforcement official reportedly had to make a split-second decision to quickly act to potentially save lives, including his own. "Law enforcement officers cannot hesitate in a life-threatening situation. If you have a weapon and are presenting an immediate threat of death or serious bodily injury, to us or the public, we have a duty to stop the threat," said Sheriff Weekly, as per Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.
Footage from dash cameras, body cameras, and exterior surveillance cameras depict the scene where Mr. Seabron was seen with a handgun, which purportedly had an extended magazine, failing to comply with calls to disarm. The investigation has further revealed that Mr. Seabron was functioning as both a step-sibling and an accessory to a female suspect, who allegedly fired shots inside the business following a physical altercation in the women's restroom. The female suspect has not been convicted and is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
