Tears running down his face, the 20-year-old man accused of shooting a police officer in Aurora earlier this month declined a formal reading of the 13 count he faces during an Adams County court hearing on Monday.
Jahvell Daquan Forrest is being held on suspicion of charges ranging from first-degree attempted murder of a peace officer to aggravated motor vehicle theft. Forrest was arrested Nov. 18.
Court records in the case, which could offer a glimpse into Forrest’s roughly four-day hiatus before his arrest, were sealed by a judge at the hearing.
Supporters of Forrest, who is being held on $1 million bond, sat in the courtroom gallery. One cried as Forrest, bound in shackles and clad in blue-and-white-striped jail clothing, moved about the courtroom after speaking with his public defender.
Police said Forrest has a long criminal history of misdemeanor offenses. Jail records show he is being held on charges related to both the shooting and for other offenses in Arapahoe County and Greenwood Village.
Officer Ryan Burns was shot in the leg on Nov. 14 when he approached a car Forrest is accused of stealing, police say. The bullet struck Burns’ femoral artery, nearly killing him.
Prosecutors have charged Forrest with two counts of attempted first-degree murder of a peace officer, suggesting that authorities believe he also shot at Officer Dale Leonard, Burns’ partner who fired back at Forrest as he fled, failing to strike him.
Burns, who is in good condition and recovering at a hospital, faces a 10-month recovery.
Police say other arrests in the case are possible.
Jesse Paul: 303-954-1733, jpaul@denverpost.com or twitter.com/JesseAPaul