No charges in Aug. 2022 Aranda shooting

DA declines to charge sheri ’s deputies

BY LUKE ZARZECKI LZARZECKI@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

O cers will not face charges in the August 2022 shooting of Derrick Aranda, District Attorney Brian Mason announced.

In a March 29 letter to Adams County Sheri Gene Claps, Mason explained his decision to not le charges for an o cer-involved shooting in Adams County on Aug. 5, 2022.

“Based on the evidence presented and the applicable Colorado law, there is no reasonable likelihood of success of proving the elements of any crime beyond a reasonable doubt as it relates to the law enforcement o cers involved in this incident,” the letter reads.

Derrick Aranda died from the shooting.

According to the investigation summary, Aranda failed to appear in Denver County District Court for criminal charges of attempted rstdegree murder. e Denver Police Department Fugitive Unit tracked Aranda to Adams County and contacted the Adams County Sheri ’s O ce.

Aranda had an active warrant for his arrest from the attempted murder case. O cers tracked Aranda and his girlfriend – identi ed in the letter by the initials “L.L.” – through their cell phones and found them to be at her apartment.

e Adams County Sheri ’s O ce Special Enforcement Team created a perimeter around the apartment with unmarked vehicles.

While there, detectives observed a Toyota Prius arriving at the apartment and turning its hazard lights on. e girlfriend left the apartment and entered the driver’s side rear seat.

Soon after, Aranda left the apartment, looked around, and began to walking toward the car. at is when the police began to approach Aranda.

Police ordered Aranda to the ground and he ran to the Prius, entering on therear passenger side and shutting the door.

en police said Aranda went from the backseat to the front seat while holding a black semi-automatic handgun. ree o cers — Deputy Isiah Acosta, Deputy Lance Kestel and Deputy Robert Bacigalupo — then red their weapons. Aranda died from multiple gunshot wounds.

According to the civilian interview,