A Thornton Police Department officer will not be criminally charged for shooting a man who was threatening people in a crowded recreation center parking lot last May.
The 17th Judicial District Critical Incident Response Team found that Terrell Watson was not only justified in the death of Brandon Martinez, but that Watson was “courageous and heroic, as well.” The shooting occurred the morning of May 14 when Thornton police were attempting to stop Martinez as he drove into oncoming traffic at 112th Street and Colorado Boulevard, according to the police report.
There were varying reports as to whether Martinez, 26, had a gun. Martinez’s mother told 9News that Martinez’s girlfriend, who was in the car with him, said that he had a black walkie talkie but no gun.
However, several witnesses said they not only saw Martinez with a gun, but heard Watkins order Martinez to drop it. They all reported that Martinez fired first, but that it was close.
One woman, according to the 911 call, told dispatch that she was in the parking lot of Margaret W. Carpenter Recreation Center at 11151 Colorado Boulevard, when “a guy came up to my window and asked me to let him in my truck and give him a ride and I said I couldn’t. I was scared.”