Denver, Colorado — On October 19, 2023, around 2:30 p.m., Denver Police were called to the area of 46th Avenue and North York Street for an individual holding a weapon. the suspect pointed the weapon, which turned out to be an airsoft pistol that fires pellets with a similar exterior to real semiautomatic handguns, at a driver who was slowly following the suspect down a city street. The driver left the area and called police. Officers found the suspect that fit the description, walking with a bookbag, with a dog following him. Several cops approached the suspect.

The suspect walked away from the officers, who demanded that he dropped the weapon. The suspect responded to police by shouting, “Shoot me, shoot me.” At one point, the suspect raised the pistol toward the officers, and four officers opened fire. The suspect was shot in the arm and torso. Officers fired 12 total rounds. One of the officers had previously been involved in a shooting while on duty as an officer. The man was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition. He survived his injuries and is facing multiple counts of felony menacing. No officers or bystanders were injured during the event.

Denver, Colorado — On Thursday, October 19, around 6:15 p.m., Denver Police officers were called to a Whole Foods store near Union Station for a report of someone brandishing a knife. Upon arrival, they found the man, 33-year-old Latif Robinson, with a 13-inch knife. Officers tried to negotiate with the suspect and offered him food, a place to stay, access to a hospital, money and a chance to charge his phone in an attempt to de-escalate the situation.

When the man began walking toward an officer, he fired at him. Another officer shot a taser, hitting the man and bringing him down. The initial gunfire did not hit the suspect. The Taser made contact with the suspect and the gunshot struck a freezer. The suspect was taken into custody and is facing a charge of felony menacing, but officials are also seeking to connect the suspect with mental health resources. The store was also evacuated after shoppers were told to take cover.