An Aurora police officer who fired a single-shot through the front windshield of a stolen SUV, hitting a juvenile who was holding a cellphone, in the hand, was justified in his use of force, according to a review of the incident.

Just before 8:30 a.m. on Jan. 8, Officer Darryll Huntsman responded to a 911 call reporting a possible burglary in the 17000 block of East Tennessee Drive, according to an incident investigation.

Huntsman knew a stolen red Honda CRV had been seen in the area. He pulled in front of the Honda and got out of his vehicle with his weapon drawn.

Huntsman ordered people inside the vehicle to “show their hands,” the letter said. He saw someone “pop up” in the backseat with a “black object” in hand.

Fearing the object was a gun, Huntsman fired one shot, through the front windshield of the Honda, hitting the phone. A 15-year-old white juvenile, identified as S.R. in the review letter, suffered a “blister” on his finger and injury from glass shard in his eyes. He was taken to Children’s Hospital, treated and released. The teen was then arrested for an “outstanding, unrelated warrant.”

“Based on my review of all the evidence in this case, I conclude the evidence supports Officer
Huntsman reasonably believed he was in imminent danger when he fired one round, striking the
black object in S.R.’s hand,” said the letter, signed by Chief Deputy District Attorney Vicki Klingensmith, 18th Judicial District.

“Applying the law to the facts of this incident…justified his use of force.”

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