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El Paso Co. Sheriffs' Office identifies suspect from officer involved shooting Saturday

Posted at 4:34 PM, Aug 06, 2019
and last updated 2019-08-06 18:44:56-04

COLORADO SPRINGS — The El Paso County Sheriffs' Office has identified the suspect from the officer involved shooting that occurred this past Saturday in Colorado Springs.

The incident occurred in the 2400 block of East Fountain Blvd.

According to the Sheriff's Office, at approximately 6:45 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 3rd, CSPD officers were dispatched to a report of a personal robbery in the 2400 block of East Fountain Blvd. When officers arrived, they interviewed the victim, who identified two suspects.

The Sheriff's Office said officers contacted the suspects and during the encounter, one suspect reached for a firearm. At least one officer fired a shot at the suspect, according to the Sheriff's Office.

The suspect was transported to a local hospital where he died from his injuries.

The Sheriffs' Office said the El Paso County Coroner has positively identified the man who died as 19-year-old Devon Malik Bailey. The Sheriff's Office added that the cause and manner of death will be determined by the Coroner's Office once they have all the information to make a ruling.

The El Paso County Sheriffs' Office is the lead investigative agency for this officer involved shooting. The investigation is ongoing and the Sheriff's Office Public Information Office will provide updates.

John Suthers, Mayor of Colorado Springs, has offered the following statement on this incident:

“The City of Colorado Springs and CSPD recognize the concerns of many citizens of our community following the officer-involved shooting of Devon Bailey on Saturday night. It is in the best interest of everyone involved, and our entire community, to ensure that the incident is fully and effectively investigated and an appropriate conclusion is reached. We know that there can be frustration with the time this takes, but we cannot compromise the investigation by failing to spend the appropriate time gathering the facts; that would serve no one. We pledge that the City and CSPD will work cooperatively and diligently with the investigating agency, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, to ensure a thorough evaluation of the evidence, and there is a robust process in place to accomplish this. The evidence gathered by the EPSO will be provided to the district attorney who will review the evidence and apply the Colorado law regarding use of force by police officers. The DA can decide whether or not to bring charges or refer the matter to a Grand Jury to make the determination. If the DA decides not to charge an officer with criminal conduct, he is required by law to issue a public report explaining his findings. A Grand Jury, in its discretion, can issue a report concerning its decision. A credible investigation and charging decision takes time and I ask the community to exercise patience as we allow the investigative and judicial process to work.”

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