MONTE VISTA — The 18-year-old man who was killed in a Monte Vista Police Department officer-involved shooting has been identified by the Rio Grande County coroner as Xavier E. Sanchez. According to a statement from Stephen Hunzeker, Rio Grande County coroner, the cause of death is still under investigation pending completion of the medical examiner's autopsy report. 

A March 29 press release from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) stated that, on Tuesday, March 21, MVPD officers Sgt. Michael Martinez and Cpl. David Pino responded to a residence at 1007 S. Broadway St.  in Monte Vista on a call from an individual inside the house saying, "a man had two knives."

According to CBI, upon the officers' arrival at the residence's front door, Sanchez jumped from a front window and ran at both officers, "swinging both knives" and "barely missing the officers." 

Cpl. Pino deployed his taser and Sgt. Martinez fired his handgun. Upon retreating backward from Sanchez, Cpl. Pino fell and then fired his handgun.  

Sanchez was declared deceased at the scene.

CBI continues investigating the shooting and will submit its findings to 12th Judicial District Attorney Anne Kelly when completed. No further information from either CBI or the Rio Grande coroner's office is available at this time.