COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The police body camera video of the shooting of 19-year-old De'Von Bailey in Colorado Springs will be released once the investigation into the incident is complete – possibly next week, the city and Colorado Springs Police Department said Friday in a joint statement.
The statement comes on the heels of a statement from El Paso County commissioners Friday that said they supported the release of the footage. Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers said earlier this week the incident should be “fully and effectively investigated.”
Bailey was shot and killed on Aug. 3 by Colorado Springs police, who said he was involved in a robbery beforehand and had reached for a weapon. Video obtained by Denver7 this week showed the final moments of the incident and showed Bailey falling as he ran from police. His family has claimed he was shot in the back multiple times, but authorities have not released much information about the shooting.
Police and the city said Friday the body camera video would show the moments before, during and after the shooting.
“The footage scheduled for release captured the moments leading up to, including and immediately following the shooting,” the statement said. “As the releasing authority, CSPD has committed to releasing the footage only at a time when it will not jeopardize or compromise the investigative or judicial process. We thank the community for its patience as we work through the process required to effectively investigate an officer-involved shooting.”
The video obtained on Wednesday appears to show Bailey’s back was toward police. The video does not make clear whether Bailey had a weapon or when he was shot. The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the police shooting.
El Paso County issued a statement Friday saying they had heard concerns about the incident from people across the county and supported the release of the body camera video.
“In order for the community to heal and come together, the investigation must be done correctly. To that end, we support transparency and the release of the footage. While CSPD is the ultimate releasing authority, we agree the release of the footage should be done at a time when it will not compromise the integrity of the investigation,” the statement said.
“While we wait for answers, I urge everyone to come together and show the nation that El Paso County can get through these tough times the right way,” Commissioner Longinos Gonzalez added.
