Denver police released bodycam video of one of its officers fatally shooting a man holding a black marker.
The shooting took place on Aug. 5 just before 8pm. in the 2300 block of West Cedar Avenue. The graphic body-worn camera footage shows Brandon Cole, 36, held a black marker in his hand and raised the marker to chest-level as he charged at a police officer that night.
The officer, who has not been publicly identified, says she thought the marker was a knife and shot Cole twice.
The body-worn camera footage shows an uninvolved woman and young child were standing directly behind Cole when the officer opened fire. Cole was killed; no one else was injured.
The incident reportedly stemmed after a neighbor called 911 to report a potential domestic violence incident between Cole, his wife and his teenage son.
The officer in this incident has been with the police department since 2019. She has not been involved in any prior shootings.
An investigation into the killing is underway; and DA will determine whether the officer acted legally when she killed Cole.