Denver agrees to settlement with family of teenager killed by police in 2015
DENVER — The city of Denver has agreed to pay $999,999 as part of a larger settlement with the family of 17-year-old Jessica Hernandez, who was fatally shot by police more than two years ago.
Hernandez was killed in an alley between Niagara and Newport streets off East 25th Avenue in northeast Denver on Jan. 26, 2015.
The Denver Police Department tried to stop Hernandez from driving a stolen vehicle, saying she tried to run into them when two officers opened fire, hitting her three times.
Four other teenagers were in the vehicle, having fallen asleep after staying out all night.
The settlement was announced during a news conference Wednesday morning at the Denver City and County Building with police chief Robert White, city attorney Kristin Bronson and independent monitor Nick Mitchell.
“The decision to settle this did not have anything to do with the officers’ conduct,” Bronson said.
“The death of this young woman was tragic, and like so many in our community, I was deeply saddened by what transpired that day,” Mayor Michael Hancock said in a statement. “My team and I have been in close contact with the Hernandez family and the officers involved since the incident.