Denver District Attorney John Walsh has ruled that no criminal charges will be filed in the April 25 shooting in south Denver that left 37-year-old Jordan Miller dead. After reviewing the case, Walsh concluded the officer who fired did so in self-defense, following investigators’ findings that Miller shot at officers during an encounter on South Quebec Street. Miller was taken to a hospital after the shooting and was later pronounced dead.
What happened
According to CBS News, the incident began when a man called 911 and reported that Miller had allegedly jumped into the back seat of his pickup truck, pointed a handgun at him, and told him, “Let's go.” When two officers arrived, a witness in the parking lot told them a “crazy guy” was waving a gun. One officer ordered the man to keep his hands up. The district attorney’s summary states that Miller fired a shot at officers, who then returned fire and struck him.
Officers provided medical aid at the scene until medics arrived and transported Miller to a hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.
Local coverage noted that Denver Police released body-camera footage and that Major Crimes Division leadership described the original 911 call as reporting an attempted carjacking at an apartment complex. As reported by The Denver Gazette, the shooting took place at the Parliament Apartments on South Quebec Street.
District attorney's ruling
Walsh said his office reviewed the investigation and determined that the officer’s use of force was justified under Colorado law, so no criminal charges will be filed, according to CBS News. The announcement effectively ends the criminal-review portion of the case, although it does not shut the door on potential administrative action within the department or possible civil proceedings.
Legal context
Under Colorado law, a peace officer may use deadly force when the officer reasonably believes it is necessary to prevent an imminent threat of death or serious bodily injury. Those standards appear in C.R.S. §18-1-707 and C.R.S. §18-1-704, which prosecutors routinely apply when reviewing officer-involved shootings.
What happens next
Even when prosecutors decline to file charges, the Denver Police Department still conducts an internal administrative review. That process can result in policy changes, additional training, or discipline for officers involved, depending on the findings. The Office of the Independent Monitor provides oversight of the department’s review.
The district attorney’s office follows a published officer-involved shooting protocol and issues a decision letter explaining its reasoning in each case. That protocol is available from the Denver District Attorney's Office.
