The Denver Police Department identified the man killed by officers after he drew a gun on them as he fled outside of a Denver middle school Tuesday night.

Brian Allen, 46, was ordered to not flee, but body camera footage shows he pulled what appeared to be a gun out of his waistband or a fanny pack slung over his shoulder and ran.

On the night of the shooting, two District Four officers and a Denver Public Schools patrol officer responded to a report of individuals trespassing near the front entrance of Kepner Beacon Middle School on the 900 block of South Hazel Court at 10:28 p.m.

The report came from a concerned neighbor who saw suspicious activity at the front door of the school, Major Crimes Division Lt. Richard Laber said at a Thursday news conference.

Upon arrival, DPS personnel saw a man later identified as Allen and a woman leaving the school property. Shortly after, the individuals were seen reentering the property.

During a routine warrant check, it was revealed that both Allen and the woman had active warrants out for parole violations.

Allen was charged with attempted first-degree murder for the robbery of a medical cannabis dispensary in Denver on April 22, 2015, according to Colorado court records. When he was arrested May 20 of that year, he was also charged with another attempted murder, robbery and kidnapping.

He pleaded guilty to the attempted murder charge on June 21, 2019. Prosecutors dropped the other charges as part of a plea deal and he was sentenced to 20 years in the Department of Corrections. It’s unclear when he was paroled. 

As officers approached the pair to take them into custody, Allen took several steps back and pulled a firearm from his waistband or a fanny pack he had hung on his chest.

Allen then turned and fled on foot while holding the weapon. Officers pursued him and ordered him to drop the weapon as he fled through the school grounds. Allen then fired several rounds at the pursuing officers, according to Laber.

All three officers returned fire, and Allen continued to shoot. Eventually, he collapsed to the ground but continued to fire at officers.

“Officers returned fire until the subject was no longer perceived to be a threat,” said Laber.

After Allen stopped firing the weapon, officers approached him, secured the firearm and began rendering aid, including the application of a chest seal.

Emergency medical responders arrived shortly after and took Allen to Denver Health Medical Center, where he later died from injuries.

The female fled the scene and has not yet been located.

Investigators determined that all three uniformed officers fired a combined total of 38 rounds during the exchange and Allen fired a total of eight rounds at officers.

“Thirty-eight rounds fired between three individuals. I would not consider that to be excessive,” said Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas in response to a question.

At the scene, DPD homicide detectives documented and recovered a black and silver 40 caliber semi-automatic handgun with the serial number filed off.

The gun had a live round chambered and “contained a 14-round magazine with 14 remaining live rounds,” Laber said. Two additional loaded magazines were also recovered at the scene.

Suspected methamphetamine, heroin, and fentanyl were found in Allen’s possession.

The two DPD-involved officers will be placed in a non-line-of-duty assignment as they complete their departments’ reintegration programs. Neither officer has been involved in a prior police shooting, according to Laber.

The investigation into the shooting is being conducted by the Colorado Bureau of Investigations, Colorado State Patrol, the DPD homicide unit and the Denver District Attorney’s Office.

“This incident very quickly turned from one in which compliance had been gained, due to the actions of this individual, it turned into one that was frighteningly dangerous, threatened the lives of the community and three dedicated public servants,” said Thomas.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact DPD or Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at (720) 913-7867. Tipsters can remain anonymous and be eligible for an reward up to $2,000.