An officer with the Colorado Springs Police Department shot two suspects this year, with his involvement confirmed in a fatal shooting earlier this month at a local Walmart.

Officer Nicholas Cassalia shot Tyler Jacob Ben, 29, on the night of Sept. 3, according to a briefing video released on Wednesday by police. Footage recorded by both security cameras and officer body cameras shows Ben pulling a loaded 9mm handgun out of the waistband of his pants before Cassalia fires several rounds.

Cassalia has been employed with the department for almost three years. On May 18, he fatally shot Michael Ray Hurst Jr., 40, after Hurst’s mother called 911 that night, saying her son was armed, suicidal and might be under the influence of drugs.

Police body camera footage recorded the sounds of gunshots inside of the house. Hurst emerged from the residence with a rifle and kept it in hand as he threatened officers.

“Officers verbally engaged the suspect to resolve the situation peacefully and commanded the suspect to drop the weapon multiple times,” said Joe Frabbiele, spokesperson for the police department’s professional standards division, in the briefing video.

Police said the suspect made moves to use the gun, then Cassalia shot his rifle four times, hitting Hurst twice.

Almost four months later, Cassalia, a patrol officer in the Sand Creek Division, and another officer came across an empty stolen vehicle in the Walmart parking lot at 3201 E. Platte Ave. around 10:30 p.m. They coordinated with two extra duty officers with the Colorado Springs Police Department at the business to identify Ben, the driver, and his female passenger.

As the suspects exited the Walmart, police commanded the pair to stop. The woman complied and was detained before her release.

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