Deputies cleared for deadly shooting of Rye bank robbery suspect

The deputies who shot and killed a man suspected of robbing a Rye bank have been cleared of any wrongdoing by the 10th Judicial District Attorney's Office.

The deadly officer-involved shooting in Colorado City Happened on Aug. 21, 2017. Dennis Flowers, 66, was fatally shot in a house on the 2900 block of Applewood Drive, near I-25 and Highway 165. No deputies were injured. The sheriff's office said Flowers was armed and the incident occurred as deputies had been "aggressively" searching for the

in Rye.

They found Flowers inside a trailer home, at which point deputies say he made a move toward a window and reached into his covered waistband. Investigators said when Flowers turned around he raised a small two-barreled firearm and pointed it at a deputy. The officers then fired their weapons.

A letter from the 10th Judicial District Attorney stated the shooting was justified by the "self-defense and defense of others provisions of the laws of the State of Colorado." The letter goes on to say the officers involved had reason to believe one of the deputies on scene was in danger of being killed or receiving "great bodily injury."

According to the letter, the coroner found 13 gunshot wounds on Flowers.

to read the full letter from District Attorney J.E. Chostner detailing the findings and conclusion.

The 10th Judicial District Critical Incident Team was aiding in the investigation. The Pueblo Police Department was the lead in the investigation.