A domestic violence call in Denver on July 15, 2022, ended with the death of 33-year-old Chaz Theodore Gallegos. Officers who responded to a residence on East 51st Avenue found Gallegos holding his longtime girlfriend, Candice Roderick, at knifepoint; Roderick already had multiple stab wounds to her neck and hands and was losing significant blood.

Gallegos used Roderick as a human shield and ignored repeated police commands to release her, at one point beginning to move her toward the garage. After more than six minutes of de-escalation efforts and amid concern for Roderick’s life, a Denver officer fired a single shot that struck Gallegos. He immediately dropped the knife and Roderick, and officers were then able to aid her. The Denver District Attorney reviewed the case and concluded the officer’s use of deadly force was legally justified, so no charges were filed.

Roderick and the couple’s two children were left to recover from the physical and emotional trauma of that day. If anyone has information about what happened at the East 51st Avenue residence on July 15, 2022, please share it.