Betrayal. Lasting fear. Anger. A community forever shattered. Victims of last year’s deadly shooting at STEM School Highlands Ranch, including students who barely escaped death, spoke of still-raw wounds as 17-year-old Alec McKinney, one of the two shooters responsible for the attack, was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 40 […]
George Brauchler
Posted inSun Investigation
Colorado’s 2015 law changing how officer-involved shootings are reviewed still lets police agencies investigate themselves
Five years ago, Colorado lawmakers passed a bill that banned police departments and sheriff’s officers from investigating themselves without any outside assistance after one of their officers or deputies shoots someone. But here’s the hitch: the legislation, Senate Bill 219, specifically states “shooting,” meaning it doesn’t apply if someone dies at the hands of law […]
Posted inCrime and Courts, News
Prosecutors won’t seek death penalty against older of two suspected STEM School Highlands Ranch shooters
CASTLE ROCK — Prosecutors will not pursue the death penalty against a teen charged in a shooting at a suburban Denver school that killed a student. In a court filing on Thursday, 18th Judicial District Attorney George Brauchler did not explain the decision not to seek capital punishment for Devon Erickson. Brauchler said that the […]
Posted inCrime and Courts, News
STEM School Highlands Ranch security guard reaches agreement with DA for firing gun, wounding students
The private security guard credited with helping stop the deadly May attack at STEM School Highlands Ranch will not be prosecuted for firing two rounds from a concealed gun he wasn’t supposed to have on campus during the attack. An agreement with prosecutors will allow Shamson Sundara to avoid criminal sanctions, but he must complete […]
Posted inBusiness, Education, Energy, Environment, Growth, Health, News, Politics and Government, Transportation
Colorado’s 2020 legislative session begins this week. Here’s a rundown of 10 issues to watch.
A year after engineering a major policy shift in Colorado, the Democratic-led General Assembly returns to the state Capitol this week with much left on its to-do list. Like the 2019 session, the question this year is how far the party will go in the 120-day lawmaking term to reshape how Colorado provides health care, […]
Posted inCrime and Courts, News, Politics and Government
Colorado poised to revisit murder law that can send people to prison for life — even when they didn’t kill anyone
Jeff Johnson. Lisl Auman. Curtis A. Brooks. All three were convicted of first-degree murder in Colorado, which carries an automatic life sentence without the possibility of parole. None of them killed anyone. But Colorado’s felony murder law, similar to statutes across the nation, allows for defendants to be charged and found guilty of first-degree murder […]
Posted inCrime and Courts, News, Politics and Government
Gov. Polis and state lawmakers eye changes to how police-involved deaths are investigated in Colorado
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and a leading statehouse Democrat are working together to identify potential changes to the way law enforcement-involved deaths are investigated. But their tentative plans are already drawing skepticism from the top prosecutor in the state’s largest judicial district and county sheriffs. “We need to make sure that when law enforcement kills […]
Posted inNews, Politics and Government
U.S. Rep. Ken Buck says he will seek reelection, dispelling speculation to the contrary
U.S. Rep. Ken Buck will seek reelection to his congressional seat next year, the Windsor Republican said Wednesday, dispelling any speculation that he was planning to give up the seat. “I have been running for this position and I will continue to,” Buck, who is in his third term, told The Colorado Sun. The confirmation […]
Posted inEducation, News
Teen should be tried for STEM School Highlands Ranch shooting, judge says
By Colleen Slevin, The Associated Press CASTLE ROCK — Prosecutors have enough evidence for a Colorado teenager to be tried for a school shooting in a Denver suburb that killed one of his classmates and injured eight others, a judge said Wednesday. Judge Theresa Slade ruled that Devon Erickson, 19, should be tried on over […]
Posted inCrime and Courts, News, Politics and Government
Colorado prosecutors warn DUI-testing mess could have impacts far beyond drunken driving cases
Two district attorneys representing some of Colorado’s largest counties are warning that problems with the state’s ability to conduct blood testing in driving under the influence cases could have much broader impacts across the criminal justice system if they aren’t quickly resolved. That includes placing in jeopardy cases ranging from vehicular homicide to murder, where […]