Police Shooting Sparks Protest

Police responding to a report of a woman being assaulted by her husband shot and killed the suspect’s uncle, who was watching television in bed, authorities said Tuesday.

The death, the third fatal police shooting in Denver this year, sparked a protest Tuesday outside the mayor’s office, with activists chanting “stop killer cops.” An aide said the mayor was examining officers’ use of force.

Police Chief Gerry Whitman said that an officer mistook a soda can Frank Lobato held for a weapon and shot him Sunday after he moved suddenly.

Lobato, 63, was an invalid who needed crutches to move around and until last week had been living in a homeless shelter, relatives said.

“This situation involves two tragedies: a brutal case of domestic violence and a loss of life,” Mayor John W. Hickenlooper said.

In the two other fatal shootings, police said one victim was threatening them with a knife and the other man shot at officers during a high-speed chase.

Cathy Sandoval had called police Sunday to report she had been held against her will and assaulted for 17 hours, police Det. John White said. She told police that her husband, Vincent Martinez, was unarmed and that his uncle was in an upstairs bedroom.

Police used a ladder to enter the home through a window after Martinez did not respond to knocks on the door, White said.

When they opened a bedroom door upstairs, they saw a man pointing a silver object at them, police said. An officer shot Lobato once in the chest.

Martinez was arrested Monday.

About two dozen protesters marched to the mayor’s office Tuesday to demand reforms. The mayor was in Washington, but the group met with his chief of staff.

Activists blasted what they said was a Police Department unwilling to acknowledge deficiencies in training and oversight.

The mayor’s chief of staff, Michael Bennet, said Hickenlooper has made police use of force a top priority.

“The point is we have to figure out how to have a police department that protects the safety of people and the safety of officers,” Bennet said.