Denver District Attorney John Walsh has ruled that three Denver Police Department officers were legally justified when they shot a man during an August 25, 2025 parking lot standoff, after he allegedly pointed a pistol at oncoming traffic.
According to the Denver Gazette, Walsh detailed his findings in a report, sent this week to Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas. The decision letter identifies the officers as Cpl. Valentin Kerchev and Officers Jonathan Hayes and Randall Wells and places the confrontation in a parking lot at 1233 W. Alameda Ave. The Gazette reports that Kerchev fired eight shots at the man, Hayes fired one, and Wells, who was holding a rifle, fired once after seeing the man's finger slip toward the pistol's trigger.
DA's Finding and Review
In a news release from the Denver District Attorney's Office, Walsh wrote that a reasonable officer in the same circumstances would have believed the suspect posed an “imminent deadly threat” and that deadly force was necessary. The release notes that the decision followed a review of body-worn camera video, witness statements and physical evidence before concluding that criminal charges against the officers were not warranted.
Weapon, Injuries and Charges
Investigators later determined the weapon was a P-22 BB gun that resembled a 9mm handgun but was not loaded and did not contain a CO2 cartridge. According to the Denver Gazette, 62-year-old Allan Wayne Scott was struck twice, once in the cheek and once near the right ear. The Gazette provides the case details and timeline and notes that Scott was charged with one count of felony menacing.
What This Means for Oversight
Officer-involved shootings in Denver are reviewed under multi-agency protocols, and the DA's office posts decision letters that summarize whether criminal charges are warranted, keeping the criminal review process distinct from internal administrative reviews. The DA's officer-involved shooting page outlines the office's review protocol and what information is typically released after an investigation, and the decision letter in this case was provided to Denver Police Department leadership.
