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A Fort Collins police officer was justified in his use of force, shooting an armed man who was pointing a shotgun at him, according to the Larimer County District Attorney’s Office.
Officer Phillip Selgren shot 18-year-old Michael Steven Wayne Cordova on Sept. 2 when officers responded to a disturbance at 1220 East Stuart St., according to a decision letter on the police shooting from Larimer County District Attorney Gordon McLaughlin to Fort Collins Police Chief Jeff Swoboda.
“Officer Selgren had both a reasonable belief that shooting was necessary, and that nonviolent means would have been ineffective in stopping Cordova,” McLaughlin concluded as part of the police shooting investigation.
Selgren had only “a second or two to react” when Cordova approached the officer without warning while carrying a shotgun, the decision letter said. Selgren fired two shots hitting Cordova, who survived the shooting.
Officers’ body camera footage, interviews with witnesses, physical evidence and reports were part of the multi-jurisdictional investigation.
“Applying the law to the facts of this incident … I conclude Officer Phillip Selgren was legally justified in his use of physical force to defend himself, other officers, and the public from the threat posed by Michael Cordova,” the letter read in part. “I have concluded that Officer Selgren was legally justified in his use of physical force, no criminal charges will be filed.”
Cordova is being investigated for two counts of attempted first-degree murder of a peace officer among other felony charges.
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