Denver police release body cam footage showing fatal shooting of knife wielding trans person after tasers ineffective

Tasers deployed by the Denver police failed to stop a trans suspect from trying to stab officers. The 52-year-old trans person, Miguel Tapia, came at the officers with a knife after the tasers did not stop him from coming. "Hey, put your stuff down and put your hands on your head! Put your hands on your head!" An officer can be heard to say on the body cam. When Tapia continued to approach, the officers then shot him to death.

Body cam footage released by the Denver PD show the suspect failing to comply with officer's demands before officers deployed their weapons. When officers approached the person, laying motionless in the street, they referred to the male as "she." The incident occurred on June 16 at about 11:30 am on Broadway and Lawrence Street. 

The incident began with motorists in the area saying that there was a person, Tapia, standing in the intersection. "One caller advised the subject was yelling at passing motorists 'to kill them,'" Denver Police Commander Matt Clark said during the Tuesday briefing. A Denver Park Ranger also saw Tapia in the road with "an eight-inch blade in a bag," he said.

Denver Police referred to Tapia as a woman and identified Tapia as transgender during a press briefing on Tuesday. "We have discovered the person was transgendered and there was a belief that the person was houseless but that did not factor into our decision," Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas said, per local outlet Denver 7.

"What factored into our decision," Tapia continued, "was the person had a knife and was moving aggressively toward the officers. They tried, I think in vain, to stop them with less lethal means and then had to transition to a lethal option when that didn't work." Officers spoke to Tapia in both English and Spanish.

"When officers arrived," Clark said, "the subject was carrying several bags but did not have a weapon in their hand. The officers could see the handle of what appeared to be a large knife in a bag that the person was wearing over their shoulder."

"One officer had previously drawn his Taser and upon seeing the subject with the knife, the officer deployed the Taser at the subject. The Taser device appeared to have a very brief impact but was not effective at stopping the subject’s intentional movement toward the officers," Clark said. "When it was clear the subject was not incapacitated by the initial Taser deployment, the same officer deployed a second cartridge from their Taser. At the same time, a second officer deployed their Taser."

"Recognizing the Tasers were not effective in stopping the subject, both officers transitioned from their Taser devices to their duty handguns," said Clark said. "In fearing the individual would attack them with the knife, both officers discharged their firearms multiple times."