In the summer of 2022, a domestic dispute in Denver, Colorado, escalated into a fatal encounter, ending the life of 33-year-old Chaz Theodore Gallegos. On July 15th, officers from the Denver Police Department responded to a distress call at a residence on East 51st Avenue, reporting an ongoing domestic violence assault.
Upon their arrival, the officers were confronted with a harrowing scene.
Inside the home, Chaz Gallegos was holding his longtime girlfriend, Candice Roderick, at knifepoint. He had already inflicted multiple stab wounds to her neck and hands. The situation was tense and volatile as Gallegos used Roderick as a human shield, ignoring the officers' repeated commands to release her and threatening to end her life.
As the standoff continued, Roderick's condition visibly worsened due to significant blood loss, raising fears that she might not survive the ordeal. After more than six minutes of attempting to de-escalate the situation, Gallegos began to move Roderick towards the garage. Fearing for the woman's imminent demise, a Denver police officer fired a single, fatal shot, striking Gallegos. He immediately lost his grip on Roderick and the knife, and responding officers were able to move in and provide aid to the injured woman.
In the aftermath of the shooting, the Denver District Attorney's Office conducted a thorough review of the incident. It was determined that the officer's use of deadly force was legally justified under Colorado law, given the immediate and severe threat posed to Candice Roderick's life. Consequently, no criminal charges were filed against the officer involved. The incident left a lasting impact on Roderick and her two children with Gallegos, as they began the difficult process of healing from the physical and emotional trauma of that day.
