The Pueblo police officer who fatally shot a man in April 2024 after the man pulled a gun during a confrontation has been cleared of any wrongdoing, according to the 10th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.
In a decision letter dated April 23, 2025, and posted in July on the Pueblo County website, District Attorney Kala Beauvais determined that the shooting of Ronald Courtney on April 17, 2024, was justified and that no criminal charges would be filed against the officers involved.
According to the letter, officers responded to a disturbance at a trailer park in the 3000 block of Lake Avenue after receiving a call from the park manager. The manager reported that Courtney was causing a disturbance and possibly abusing his dog.
When officers made contact, they discovered Courtney had an active arrest warrant out of Alamosa County for failing to appear in court. Body camera footage showed that officers attempted to help him make arrangements for his dog before taking him into custody.
Courtney told the officers he needed to shut off his air conditioner and attempted to go back into his trailer. When Cpl. Thomas DeCesaro blocked the doorway, Courtney pushed him and told him to “step back.” As DeCesaro tried to detain him, Courtney pulled away, moved toward the back of the trailer, and drew a gun from his pocket, pointing it at the officers. DeCesaro fired a single shot, striking Courtney in the chest.
Officers rendered aid until emergency responders arrived. Courtney was transported to a hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.
Interviews with Courtney’s ex-wife and son revealed that he had expressed suicidal thoughts and had refused to address the warrant, stating that if confronted by police, he would pull a gun. His son told investigators that Courtney had said a shootout with police was how he wanted to die.
The DA’s conclusion was based on multiple sources: body camera footage, officer interviews, statements from Courtney’s family, and crime scene evidence.
“Corporal DeCesaro reasonably believed that when Courtney pulled his firearm and began to aim it at officers that he was going to seriously injure or kill another officer, a civilian, or Corporal DeCesaro himself,” Beauvais wrote.
“Given the facts and circumstances of the situation and governing law, criminal charges against Corporal Thomas DeCesaro would not be appropriate,” the letter concluded.
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Katie is a senior who has been on staff for three years. Her favorite type of stories to write is reviews and features. Katie’s favorite ice cream flavor is strawberry.
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