COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) has released a Significant Event Briefing detailing an officer-involved shooting that occurred early Saturday, July 5, resulting in the death of 26-year-old Alex Martinez-Sarmiento.
The briefing includes 911 audio, body-worn camera footage, and surveillance from downtown cameras.
Incident Timeline:
Around 1:30 a.m., a community member reported a man with a rifle screaming at people in front of Mansion Nightclub on East Pikes Peak Avenue. The caller described the weapon as resembling a semi-automatic M4 rifle held in a threatening manner.
Officers in the Real Time Crime Center (RTCC) began scanning downtown cameras. Although they initially didn’t see a weapon, they spotted a group arguing near 108 East Pikes Peak Avenue. Officers arrived and dispersed the group.
When the same group reconvened and argued again, officers made a second contact and instructed them to leave.
Meanwhile, RTCC continued reviewing camera footage and identified a man matching the original description carrying what appeared to be a rifle. This individual was confirmed to be part of the same group.
Escalation and Shooting:
As officers on the ground prepared to act, RTCC alerted them that the man had retrieved a handgun with an extended magazine from a nearby vehicle.
When officers confronted the suspect, he initially raised his hands but then fled, allegedly reaching toward his waistband. One officer fired multiple shots, striking the man.
Officers immediately rendered medical aid, but Martinez-Sarmiento was pronounced dead at the scene.
Weapons Recovered:
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A loaded Glock 17 with an illegal extended magazine was found in his right pant leg.
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A second loaded handgun, a Glock 43 with a defaced serial number, was discovered in a nearby vehicle.
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The rifle seen in earlier footage has not been found.
As per Colorado law, the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the shooting. Once complete, the findings will go to the Fourth Judicial District Attorney’s Office for a ruling on whether the officer’s actions were legally justified.
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