The family of a Colorado man who was seen on security video being struck by a police car before he was fatally shot by police is demanding answers about the circumstances of the man’s death.
Stephen Poolson Jr., 41, died Feb. 2 after an anonymous Littleton police officer rammed him with a patrol car, chased him on foot and shot him after a report of a “suspicious vehicle,” according to a report. security footage. Obtained by Denver’s NBC affiliate KUSAInformation released by the Littleton Police Department and the Arapahoe County Coroner’s Office.
The 13-second video obtained by KUSA shows Poolson being knocked off his motorcycle after being struck by the police vehicle. Poolson then runs behind a building and the officer runs after him; both are hidden from view.
The video complicates the initial narrative. released by police, in which they said Poolson was “riding a motorcycle and crashed” shortly after 1 a.m. and then ran and pulled out a gun, prompting the unidentified officer to shoot him. Police said he had been transported to the hospital under unknown conditions.
The report did not mention that the police officer crashed into Poolson near the intersection of South Bannock Street and West Powers Ave in Littleton, a city about 11 miles south of Denver.
“They say one thing, and it’s something completely different,” Poolson’s sister, Shannon Wicker, 37, said Friday. “Until we see all the facts, we don’t know what to think.”
Police announced that “the suspect is deceased” shortly after 5 a.m. on February 2 and identified him shortly after 11:45 a.m. the next day, adding that the investigation was ongoing.
Poolson died of gunshot wounds to the neck, abdomen, and upper and lower extremities, according to a spokesperson for the coroner’s office, adding that there was no indication of blunt force injuries consistent with a car accident. The death is classified as a homicide, the spokesperson said, adding that a toxicology report is pending.
Wicker and Stephanie Poolson said they want more information from police about their brother’s death. They ask for body camera or extended surveillance footage showing the movements of the officer and Stephen Poolson Jr. before the accident; an explanation of why he was hit by a car; details about why the officer believed Poolson had a weapon; and an account of how the shooting unfolded.
“I don’t know if we have enough information to know if the police handled it accurately or not,” said Stephanie Poolson, 43. “I think they hit him.” [by a car] is not correct.”
Wicker said that he would like to know what the officer was thinking.
“I would like to know why he hit him, I would like to know why it was necessary to take his life,” Wicker said.
Wicker said her brother had schizophrenia, a mental disorder that affects the way people interpret reality. according to the Mayo Clinicwhich she said may have affected her response to the officer.
The Littleton Police Department did not immediately respond to questions from NBC News on Friday.
A police department spokesperson told KUSA that the initial information police released was “very preliminary” and “the most accurate information LPD had at the time.”
The officer involved was placed on administrative leave, per department protocol, KUSA reported, and multiple law enforcement agencies are reviewing the incident.
Stephen Poolson Jr. obituary describes him as “the life of the party” with a “unique sense of humor” noting that he loved motorcycles, boats and the New Orleans Saints.
Wicker said his brother was trying to leave Colorado to “be around different people.” He found a notebook in which he wrote about the possibility of going to university.
“I know they need time to investigate,” he said, “but I need to see the footage to believe what happened to my brother.”
