Data from The Denver Post shows that Colorado law enforcement shot individuals roughly every six days in 2024, resulting in 39 fatalities and 22 injuries. Disturbingly, nearly 13% of those killed were Black, even though Black residents represent less than 4% of the state’s population, highlighting significant racial disparities in police use of force. The analysis found that Black individuals in Colorado are disproportionately shot by police, often while unarmed, raising concerns about systemic bias in law enforcement practices across the state.
This year’s data indicates a worrying trend, with an increase in police shootings observed across several law enforcement agencies, including some with rises as steep as 250%. For families like that of Kilyn Lewis, a 37-year-old Black man killed by Aurora police, these statistics represent a daily fight for justice and accountability amidst a backdrop of frustration with a system perceived as unresponsive. The ongoing calls for legislative reforms and changes in policing practices become increasingly urgent as communities grapple with the consequences of these alarming figures.
Read full story at www.denverpost.com
