WELD COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR) — Criminal charges will not be filed against a Weld County deputy and Dacono officer in the shooting death of an armed suspect on April 17.
According to the Office of the District Attorney, Smokey Crockett arrived at his ex-wife’s house at 16241 Casler Ave. and threatened her with a gun. She was able to escape and hide in the back yard.
When officers arrived at the scene, Crockett was outside of the house with the gun in hand. Officers ordered him to drop his weapon. After several commands, Crockett continued moving toward officers and raised the gun at them, according to court documents.
Weld County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Simon Gonifas and Officer Kyle Cooksey fired at Crockett five times. He was struck and died on scene.
“Based on the facts gathered during this investigation as summarized in the attached report
and the legal analysis outlined above, I find that Deputy Gonifas and Officer Cooksey were
justified in using lethal force against Crockett. The use of such force was reasonable based on
Crockett’s threatened use of deadly physical force against both civilians and law enforcement
officers,” District Attorney Michael J. Rourke submitted in the report.
During the same incident, Fort Lupton officers also fired shots at Crockett. An investigation into their conduct is being undertaken by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation and is separate from the District Attorney’s investigation.