A former Colorado sheriff’s deputy, Andrew Buen, was convicted of reckless endangerment in the shooting death of 22-year-old Christian Glass, who had called 911 for help after his car got stuck in a mountain community. Buen was also charged with second-degree murder and official misconduct, but the jury found him guilty only of reckless endangerment. Prosecutors alleged that Buen needlessly escalated the situation with Glass, who was in a mental health crisis, while the defense argued that Buen shot Glass to protect another officer, making the shooting legally justified. Six other officers were charged with failing to intervene in Glass’ death, and D.A. Heidi McCollum still has the option to pursue the additional charges of murder and official misconduct against Buen.
Glass had called for help after his SUV was stuck on a dirt road, exhibiting signs of paranoia, hallucinations, and a mental health crisis. Body camera footage showed Glass making heart shapes with his hands and praying to not have his window broken. The altercation escalated when Glass refused to exit his vehicle, leading to Buen shouting commands at him and attempts to force him out using bean bag rounds and a Taser. Glass then threw a knife out of a rear window towards another officer, leading Buen to fire five shots at Glass, resulting in his death. Prosecutors argued that Buen had no legal justification to force Glass out of the vehicle, even if he suspected Glass of driving under the influence.
The defense argued that prosecutors failed to investigate whether Glass had underlying behavioral or psychological issues or if drugs played a role in his actions. Glass’s mother had mentioned that he had depression and had recently been diagnosed with ADHD, stating that he was having a mental health episode during the incident with the police. Chief Deputy D.A. Stephen Potts described Glass as a terrified boy, emphasizing that the cause of the crisis was irrelevant. The jury’s verdict of reckless endangerment was seen as a step towards justice for Glass by the attorney representing the Glass family, who expressed their desire for the prosecution to continue pursuing charges against Buen for murder and official misconduct.
Buen’s conviction for reckless endangerment came with a potential four-month jail sentence, unlike the years in prison he could have faced with a second-degree murder conviction. The case drew national attention and prompted calls for police reform focused on crisis intervention due to the handling of Glass’s mental health crisis. The six other officers charged with failing to intervene in Glass’s death further highlighted the issue of accountability within law enforcement. D.A. McCollum’s decision on whether to pursue additional charges against Buen for murder and official misconduct is expected in the coming weeks, indicating that the case may not be resolved with the misdemeanor conviction alone.
