Update:  April 4, 2023 

The Mesa County Coroner's Office has completed its examination regarding the death involving law enforcement on Walnut Avenue on April 1, 2023. The decedent has been identified as 27-year-old Erick Jara of Grand Junction. Following the incident, Mr. Jara was transported to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly thereafter. The cause of death is ruled to be multiple gunshot wounds.

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The Mesa County Sheriff’s Office is releasing the following information on behalf of the 21st Judicial District Critical Incident Response Team.

On Saturday, April 1, 2023, at 6:43 p.m., officers with the Grand Junction Police Department responded to a report of an assault in progress. While en route, officers received information from the Grand Junction Regional Communication Center that an adult male was armed with a knife and had attempted to stab his housemate.  

After the shooting occurred, officers immediately rendered medical aid and continued life-saving measures until paramedics arrived. The male was transported to the hospital via ambulance but later died.

As is standard protocol with any officer-involved shooting, the officers involved are currently on paid administrative leave.  The Grand Junction Police Department will be responsible for releasing the names of the officers involved. 

This incident remains under investigation by the CIRT as they continue to conduct interviews of witnesses and process evidence over the next several days.  Additional details will be released as appropriate, with sensitivity to the ongoing investigation. 

The Mesa County Coroner’s Office will be responsible for releasing the identity and cause and manner of death.

Previous:

The Mesa County Sheriff’s Office is releasing the following information on behalf of the 21st Judicial District Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) about an officer-involved shooting that occurred Saturday evening involving the Grand Junction Police Department.

On April 1, 2023, at 6:43 pm, the Grand Junction Police Department responded to the 1600 block of Walnut Avenue to investigate an assault in progress.  Once in contact with an adult male, the officer-involved shooting occurred. No officers were injured in the incident. The suspect was transported to the hospital.

It is important to note that this investigation is in the very early stages, and this preliminary information is subject to change.  CIRT members will interview witnesses and involved persons in this case.   As is standard protocol with any officer-involved shooting, the officers involved are currently on paid administrative leave.  An internal investigation will take place separately from the criminal investigation.

All officer-involved shootings in Mesa County are investigated by the 21st Judicial District Critical Incident Response Team, which is comprised of representatives of the Grand Junction Police Department, Mesa County Sheriff’s Office, Fruita Police Department, Palisade Police Department, Colorado State Patrol, Colorado Department of Corrections, 21st Judicial District Attorney’s Office, and Colorado Bureau of Investigation. CIRT is activated when a law enforcement agency is involved in a critical incident to ensure an independent investigation. Because Grand Junction Police Department personnel was involved in this incident, the Mesa County Sheriff's Office is leading this investigation on behalf of the CIRT.