Shaun Tobelmann, 34, has now been formally accused in the incident, and there are charges aplenty, including eleven for attempted first-degree murder. The reason for so many allegations is spelled out in probable cause statement shared belong along with photos and video.
Early on the 21st, according to the document, officers received a 911 call from an unnamed woman described as the "intimate live-in girlfriend" of Tobelmann. She said that in the midst of an argument at their apartment, located at 1196 Grant Street,, he had broken her cell phone, damaged her jewelry, pushed her and punched her in the face, bloodying her nose.
She added that Tobelmann had been drinking and had threatened to kill himself. His whereabouts at the time of the call -- the bedroom, where he was armed with at least one gun. And she made it clear to the dispatcher that this weapon might not be the only one at his disposal.
Cops arrived around 2:09 a.m., then headed to the apartment. As an officer was trying to make contact with Tobelmann through the door, he heard a gunshot inside. That prompted the personnel on scene to set up a containment perimeter as they continued their attempts to communicate with Tobelmann -- a conversation that was punctuated by numerous additional shots.
These bangs and booms brought out even more cops, at whom Tobelmann randomly fired. One line of the statement puts the situation bluntly: "During this event, Tobelmann attempted to murder eight uniformed Denver Police Officers."Based on the subsequent charges, the math apparently changed, but the danger comes across clearly. For instance, the statement describes three officers taking up positions in a parking lot across Grant, where they could see Tobelmann "taking aimed, directed-fire shots with a long gun" at them. The report continues, "They heard bullets fly past them at close distance and rounds were impacting their immediate vicinity. The officers were in fear for their lives."
One attempt to force surrender involved a trio of SWAT officers entering the fifth floor hallway of the apartment building, with one of them firing "a 40 mm, less-than lethal round through the balcony window" as his partners provided cover. Tobelmann allegedly responded by firing through a window at the officers using a shotgun. The cops were sprayed with pellets and glass fragments, with one being struck in the face and another getting hit in the upper arm.
Tobelmann is also said to have fired his shotgun through his apartment door, spraying another three cops with pellets, fragments and debris.
It took until 6:02 a.m. for police to successfully take Tobelmann into custody. Afterward, they discovered his arsenal: two handguns, a shotgun and a duffel bag full of ammo.
The official charges leveled against him by the Denver District Attorney's Office? Eleven counts of attempted first-degree murder, a like number related to first-degree assault, and one count each of third-degree assault and failure to leave premises upon request by a peace officer. He was scheduled to make his first court appearance this morning, after his bond was set at $100,000.
Look below to see a CBS4 report, followed by Tobelmann's latest mug shot, a previous booking photo, and the probable cause statement. After that, you'll find our previous coverage, complete with a Twitter chronology of events from the DPD.
Original post, 9:58 a.m. February 21: Denver police and a disturbed gunman engaged in a long standoff near 12th and Grant today. The incident began in the early morning hours and stretched into the snowy morning commute, with sporadic gunfire and the dispersal of chemical agents taking place prior to the suspect being taken into custody -- a process documented on the DPD's Twitter account. Tweets, photos and video below.
According to 9News, police received what they describe as a "suicidal party" call just past 2 a.m. this morning. But if the individual in question initially intended to harm himself, the situation soon mutated into a dangerous one for others in the vicinity. He was reportedly on an upper floor and firing down toward the street level in the midst of snowfall, further complicating the police response.
Here's the first Denver police tweet, sent out shortly after the standoff started.
BREAKING: Barricaded suspect near 11th and Grant.PIO will meet media on S/E corner 11th and Grant.
— Denver Police Dept (@DenverPolice) February 21, 2013
The following message quickly followed.
UPDATE:DPD is asking that people STAY in their homes.Several shots have been fired since police came on scene.
— Denver Police Dept (@DenverPolice) February 21, 2013
As a result of the flying lead, residents of the gunman's apartment building were evacuated. Meanwhile, the police tried to make sure that no more people were put in harm's way, as indicated by this tweet, underscored by a photo....
UPDATE:Please avoid the area of 12th and Grant twitter.com/DenverPolice/s...
— Denver Police Dept (@DenverPolice) February 21, 2013
...and an even more emphatic, caps-heavy statement.
UPDATE:Shots being fired outside the building. STAY INSIDE and OUT OF THIS AREA.
— Denver Police Dept (@DenverPolice) February 21, 2013
An hour or more into the siege, police gave Twitter followers an indication of the next tactic.
UODATE : STAY INSIDE AND SHUT WINDOWS - DEPLOYING CHEMICAL AGENT
— Denver Police Dept (@DenverPolice) February 21, 2013
No confirmation at this writing about the chemical agent in question, but tear gas is a likely possibility. Still, resolution was still a ways off, as indicated by this tweet and accompanying photo....
UPDATE:SWAT and Negotiators on scene twitter.com/DenverPolice/s...
— Denver Police Dept (@DenverPolice) February 21, 2013
...plus another behind-the-scenes image.
PHOTO:Inside the police command post at 11th and Grant twitter.com/DenverPolice/s...
— Denver Police Dept (@DenverPolice) February 21, 2013
Finally, at around 6 a.m., this message was sent.
UPDATE:Situation resolved, 1 party taken into custody . No injuries.Updates on street openings to follow.
— Denver Police Dept (@DenverPolice) February 21, 2013
Clearing the scene took some time, however. It wasn't until approximately 9 a.m. that officers were able to tweet this:
TRAFFIC: 12th Ave. & Grant St. has re-open. All streets in the area of barricade are now open.
— Denver Police Dept (@DenverPolice) February 21, 2013
The individual in question has not been identified thus far, and there's been no indication about possible charges against him. Learn more in this 9News clip.
More from our Colorado Crimes archive: "Michael Grover's explosive preparations for Doomsday net arrest, $1 million bond."
