Protesters March In Denver In The Name Of 16-Year-Old Alexis Mendez-Perez
DENVER (CBS4) - Nearly 100 people marched for justice for a 16-year-old boy who was allegedly shot by an off-duty Department of Corrections officer. Supporters said on Sunday Alexis Mendez-Perez was shot and killed by Desmond Manning in April of 2020.
On the night of April 23rd, 2020, family members say Alexis Mendez-Perez attended a party at vacant house in Denver's Montbello neighborhood. Police reports show a 911call from Manning's home suspecting someone broke into the vacant neighbor's house.
When Denver police arrived, Alexis jumped a fence into off duty corrections officer Desmond Manning's backyard. Manning shot the teen in the back from several feet away. Denver police arrested Manning after he allegedly shot the teenager and one other person.
In June, Denver's District Attorney announced she chose not to charge Manning. Prosecutors say they would have had to prove he was not defending his life or the lives of his family. Mendez-Perez's sister told CBS4 that decision is unfair.
"So we want to tell them that, you know like my brother, he is, he was a 16-year-old little boy you know? We just want them to know that he wasn't putting anyone at harm. He wasn't trying to harm anyone at all, and it was just unfair for him to get shot and killed just for him entering a vacant home and not putting any of this off duty's family or himself in danger," said Ana Mendez.
Manning was fired a decision which he later appealed, and got his job back. He is currently listed as a code enforcement officer with the Hudson Police Department. Mendez-Perez's family thinks Manning should no longer be allowed to be an officer.
"It's like come on you guys should know that this guy is a danger to our community," says Ana Mendez.
The family of Alexis Mendez-Perez has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Manning. They say it is their last shot at justice.
"I feel like we're just kind of let down and then just kind of being forgotten about because you know we are Hispanic," says Ana Mendez.
