No charges will be filed against a Longmont police officer who shot a paroled murderer following a September standoff at a local hotel that included an explosion in a third-floor room where the suspect had barricaded himself.
In a news release sent Tuesday, the Boulder County District Attorney’s Office stated officer Daniel Kilian was “legally justified in his use of reasonable and appropriate physical force to effect a felony arrest and in response to the imminent risk of death or great bodily injury to numerous individuals.”
Leon Gladwell, 40, was shot once in the chest in the incident at the Residence Inn, according to the release. He was on parole after serving 22 years of a 40-year prison sentence for a second-degree murder conviction in the 1998 death of his grandmother, according to the DA’s office.
“Gladwell had a violent history while in the custody of (the Department of Corrections), including as a member of the Surenos gang” and had been rejected for transition to three halfway houses, according to the release. He was paroled in April and “despite his violent behavior” while in prison and lack of support in the community, he was released to a homeless shelter in Boulder, the DA’s office stated in the release.
“Five months after his release, he threatened to harm himself and others, blew up a hotel room, and endangered the lives of many people,” the DA’s office stated.
The events that led to the Sept. 24 explosion, shooting and subsequent arrest of Gladwell began to unfold at 11:29 a.m. that day, after a therapist contacted police because of concerns that Gladwell was “on methamphetamine, was in possession of weapons and a propane tank, and posed a significant threat to other people,” according to the release. Gladwell also had stated he wanted to harm himself and others, according to the DA’s office.
A parole officer and a Longmont Police Department Crisis Outreach Response and Engagement, or CORE, team responded to the Residence Inn, and took two knives from Gladwell, according to the release. CORE teams are comprised of a behavioral health clinician, a paramedic and a specially trained police officer who respond to 911 calls for service that indicate a mental illness or substance use issue.
Gladwell retreated to his room after the encounter and the parole officer “observed what he believed to be a propane tank inside the room,” according to the release. The parole officer then sought a warrant for Gladwell’s arrest, since possession of weapons was a violation of his parole conditions, according to the release. Meanwhile, law enforcement personnel at the hotel heard Gladwell moving things in front of the door to barricade himself in the room, the DA’s office stated.
Several attempts were made over several hours to deescalate the situation, according to the release.
After a warrant was obtained, the Longmont SWAT team responded and tried to convince Gladwell to exit the room.
“Multiple officers then heard a hissing sound,” the DA’s office stated in the release. “At 7:22 p.m., a large explosion ripped through the third-floor bedroom, endangering the lives of other hotel guests and officers.”
The force of the explosion caused the window to blow out and become embedded in the roof of the building to the west, according to the release, and SWAT officers quickly cleared guests from the hotel and continued to give commands to Gladwell.
At 8:47 p.m., Gladwell appeared in the blown-out window frame and appeared to start to throw an item at officers positioned on a nearby roof, according to the release. Killian, who was on a roof to the west of Gladwell’s room, believed Gladwell was about to detonate another explosive device and fired three rounds into the hotel room, according to the release.
Gladwell was hit once and underwent surgery for his injury before being released from the hospital to the Boulder County Jail, where he is being held on the parole violation warrant, according to the DA’s office.
Video and audio from body-worn and drone cameras are consistent with officer and witness accounts of the events, according to the release.
The investigation was conducted by the Critical Incident Team for the 20th Judicial District, also known as the Boulder County Investigation Team. The multi-agency team investigates incidents in which law enforcement uses physical or deadly force in the course of official duties.
“The decision to release Mr. Gladwell at this point in his sentence is troubling, particularly with his violent conduct in prison and lack of support accessible to him in the community,” District Attorney Michael Dougherty stated in the release. “We are fortunate that no one died as a result of his actions ... I appreciate that the Boulder County Investigation Team conducted an independent and thorough review. The integrity and outcome of these investigations is critical.”
The district attorney’s detailed report, along with the video presentation prepared by the Critical Incident Team, can be found here. Dougherty will conduct a town hall on the investigative process and findings from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Thursday, which can be joined via this link or by calling 720-400-7859 and using Conference ID No. 394 193 141. Questions can be submitted in advance by emailing [email protected].