ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Bernalillo County Sheriff’s officials say six deputies who fatally fired on a suspect last month mistook his flashlight for a gun.
Chief Deputy Nicholas Huffmyer shared video from the shooting of 45-year-old Colby Atkins during a news conference Monday.
Deputies responded shortly before 1:30 p.m. Sept. 20 to a crash when someone informed them a person was passed out in a automotive parked at a gas station.
The officers say they surrounded the automotive and tried to wake Atkins up. He drove away two minutes after being roused, based on police dash camera video.
Authorities say Atkins then ran a red light, hit two cars and drove up on the sidewalk at one point. Huffmyer says the suspect was endangering the general public at this point.
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In line with deputies, Atkins crashed and was stuck. The video shows he got out and in of the automotive for 10 minutes but ignored commands from law enforcement. Attempts to interrupt the automotive windows by shooting bean bags failed.
Atkins then appears to point a weapon. Within the video one deputy might be heard yelling “he’s got a gun.” That’s when all of the deputies shot at him.
Atkins was pronounced dead on the scene. It was also revealed the automotive was stolen.
It is the third fatal shooting involving Bernalillo County Sheriff’s deputies this 12 months.
Meanwhile, a toxicology report on Atkins is pending.
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