Boulder County DA declines to charge officer in fatal Longmont shooting
Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty will not file criminal charges against the officer who fatally shot Ashlyn Brownell, 31, following a standoff with police outside a Longmont home earlier this year. Dougherty determined the shooting was legally justified under Colorado’s use-of-force laws, according to a decision letter released this week.
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The incident began March 19 at 4 p.m., when Longmont police received a 911 call from Brownell’s mother, who said her daughter was on the front porch holding a gun to her own neck and was suicidal, according to law enforcement officials. Officials said Brownell later fired the gun from inside the home, prompting officers to call in a SWAT team.
During the hours-long standoff, Brownell showed officers through a window that she was loading the gun, according to officials. When the garage door opened, she pointed the gun at officers. Frederick Police Sgt. Tyler Farson, a member of the SWAT team, fired two shots, striking her in the chest and face. She died from the gunshot wounds, officials said.
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Investigators recovered a note in which Brownell apologized to her son and said goodbye, officials said. Her mother told investigators Brownell had a history of alcoholism, depression, bipolar disorder and anxiety.
The shooting was not clearly captured on body-worn cameras, in part due to officers’ tactical positions and the location of an armored vehicle, officials said. Dougherty plans to hold a virtual town hall at 1 p.m. July 21 to discuss the incident and his decision not to file charges.
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