Thread: CO-Man killed by Denver police Sunday was in U.S. illegally

Man killed by Denver police Sunday was in U.S. illegally
By Tom McGhee

Posted: 12/16/2009 01:00:00 AM MST


A man killed in an altercation with Denver police early Sunday was a 30-year-old resident of Mexico who was in the U.S. illegally, according to the medical examiner's office.

Nicolas Alvarado-Morales was shot when he pointed a gun at police who were responding to reports that someone was discharging a weapon along West Louisiana Avenue early Sunday, according to police.

Alvarado-Morales, of Mexico City, died of a single gunshot to the chest, said Michelle Weiss-Samaras, Denver's chief deputy coroner.

Family members identified the body and said Alvarado-Morales had resided in the U.S. illegally for some time, Weiss-Samaras said.

Police were dispatched to the neighborhood after several people reported shots fired. Witnesses said the man was firing a handgun as he walked, police said.

Officers caught up with Alvarado-Morales at the corner of Louisiana and South Patton Court and ordered him to drop the weapon, according to police. Instead he raised the gun and was shot.

Neighbors said they heard several shots before looking out of their homes to see what happened. But Weiss-Samaras said Alvarado-Morales was struck by only one bullet.

"That is the only gunshot wound he has," she said.

It remains unclear whether Alvarado-Morales fired on police.

"We don't have results from the crime lab on his weapon yet. We do know he was shooting the gun while walking on the street; we don't have a number of rounds yet," Denver police spokesman Joe Ramirez said.

Witnesses have told media, including The Denver Post, that police hit and kicked the man after he was shot.

John King, who also saw the aftermath of the shooting, said the suspect continued to struggle after he was shot. King said police had to subdue him to get handcuffs on him but that they didn't beat him.

The death is the fourth involving police in Denver this year.

The officers involved are on administrative leave, which is standard procedure.

The Police Department is investigating the incident.

Tom McGhee: tmcghee@denverpost.com

http://www.denverpost.com/ci_14005330?source=rss

Another stat in the fight for our country!!

It's a wonder the ACLU isn't on this as a hatecrime. Oh yeah, they may be too busy openning all those lovely christmas cards they must be receiving.