COLORADO SPRINGS – The 4th Judicial District Attorney’s Office ruled Tuesday that officers were justified in their actions on Aug. 2 in the shooting involving Officer Cem Duzel.
Prosecutors released an “abbreviated report” due to the open investigation into Karrar Noaman Al Khammasi, the man suspected of shooting Duzel.
The report said Duzel and Corporal Ron Carter separately responded to the area on a shots-fired call. Duzel made contact with a man who was walking west along Boulder Street when they shot at each other. Duzel was shot in the head.
That’s when Corporal Ron Carter arrived at the scene, where prosecutors said he found both Duzel and Khammasi on the ground. Carter said he saw the man, later identified as Al Khammasi, was still holding his gun. The report said Carter fired his weapon, “ultimately concluding in Mr. Khammasi being disarmed.”
The report said Carter administered medical care to both Duzel and Al Khammasi.
Al Khammasi was shot in the exchange, and he was eventually released from the hospital. He is awaiting arraignment at the end of November.
Duzel’s condition has steadily improved since he was rushed to the hospital early that morning. He continues his recovery at a Denver area rehabilitation center after he was discharged from the hospital on Aug. 28.
Prosecutors ruled that because both officers were acting in self-defense and in defense of others when they fired their weapons at Al Khammasi. Neither Carter nor Duzel will face charges.
