The Denver Police Department released body cam video of an officer-involved shooting that occured on November 27.
Officers were drawn to a situation in a parking lot because they overheard loud music “blaring” from a vehicle.
A man — later identified as 32-year-old Zachary Yates — can be seen outside of a truck, moving boxes near a dumpster, according to the video.
As officers approached the man, they noticed a handgun tucked in his waistband on his back. Officers ordered the man to drop the gun.
Yates stood with his hands at his side. He asked the officers why it was illegal to have a gun, claiming he had a concealed handgun permit.
Officers attempted to get the man to comply for around four minutes. Yates continued to argue with the officers, the video shows. The man then reached behind his back.
Two officers fired five times, hitting the suspect twice from around 30-to-40 feet away. The officers immediately began to render aid and called an ambulance.
The firearm recovered was a Glock 17 with one round in the chamber. The magazine in the firearm had a capacity of 17 rounds with 16 in it, Clark said. Both the magazine size and the gun are prohibited in Denver.
Yates was taken to a local hospital and immediately taken into surgery, Clark said. He survived and has since been released from the hospital.
Yates faces charges of unlawfully carrying a firearm and prohibited possession of a high-capacity magazine.
Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas said the officers’ response was a “reasonable assumption” that the man was reaching for the gun.
The officers, who were not identified, have been placed on a modified duty status as the Critical Incident Investigative Protocol is completed.