The 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office announced that Adams County Sheriff’s Deputy Lane Paintin was not charged in the shooting of a man in Denver last year.
Paintin, who fired his handgun four times at Francisco Cruz, shooting him in the chest, was found to have acted within reason to de-escalate what officers believed to be an imminent threat, according to a letter from 17th Judicial District Attorney Brian Mason explaining the decision.
The incident began in the afternoon of Feb. 18, 2024, when Adams County Sheriff’s deputies responded to the scene of a shooting in the 300 block of West 80th Avenue, according to the letter. The homeowner who placed the call said that Cruz, their next door neighbor, had fired a handgun at them and hit their house, according to the letter. Cruz then had retreated inside his house after the shooting, the caller said…