Deputy Killed By Bullet That Hit Badge
GREELEY, Colo. (CBS4) -- An investigation shows that a Weld County sheriff's deputy fatally shot while struggling with a suspected car thief was killed by a bullet that ricocheted off his badge and hit his face.
The Weld County district attorney released the results Tuesday of the investigation into Deputy Sam Brownlee's death Nov. 23 while wrestling on the ground with Rueben Reyes. Investigators say Reyes got the deputy's gun and shot him.
When asked how Reyes got the deputy's gun out of his holster, District Attorney Ken Buck replied, "We have no idea. We have no idea. The best we can figure is something happened as they were falling to the ground. As the suspect lunged toward the police, he must have gotten the gun and as he hit the ground the gun was underneath him on the ground."
According to the prosecutor's report, one bullet hit the deputy in the hand, Brownlee's bulletproof vest absorbed a second shot, but a third ricocheted off the deputy's badge. One tip of the star is apparently bent and scratched from the bullet which killed Brownlee.
"It ricocheted off his badge and hit the vest. Then it ricocheted up, went through his face and into his head," said Buck. "It is terribly sad and it is terribly unfortunate that the vest didn't act in the way that it was designed to act. Instead of absorbing the bullet, it actually ricocheted the bullet."
Reyes died after he was shot by an Evans police officer.
Buck said Reyes' shooting was justified and the officer won't be charged.
"The suspect continued to maintain control of the gun and the only way to protect others was to shoot him at that point," said Buck.
Police say the 20-year-old Reyes stole a car in Fort Morgan and led them on a high-speed chase before stopping in Evans.
Click here for a link to the report on the Brownlee shooting.
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