Colorado Officer Cleared in Fatal Shooting

DENVER --

The Broomfield district attorney has ruled that a police officer who shot and killed a man during a domestic violence incident was justified in using deadly force.

Officer Clint Hess was called to a Broomfield home on May 24 on a report of a fight between a husband and wife.

Howard Blair Kepler, 58, was holding his wife, Leigh Landskroner, 50, in a downstairs bathroom with a gun, said Krista Flannigan of the 17th Judicial District Attorney's Office.

A SWAT team was called to the home to try and get Kepler to release his wife, but he refused.

"After hearing Landskroner plead for her life, the police then heard Landskroner start to scream 'No, Stop, Don’t!' " Flannigan said.

The SWAT team tried to open the door and then heard three or four shots. When the SWAT team opened the door, Kepler turned his gun toward them. Hess fired twice hitting Kepler in the head killing him, Flannigan said.

Landskroner was taken to the hospital and later died from her wounds.

District Attorney Don Quick reviewed the case and ruled "Hess was justified in the shooting of Kepler," Flannigan said.

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