A former deputy sheriff from Colorado was found guilty of criminally negligent homicide on Thursday related to the fatal shooting of a 22-year-old man who called 911 seeking assistance after his vehicle became stuck in a mountain area.
In the high-profile case involving the death of Christian Glass in June 2022, jurors decided against a conviction for the more severe charge of second-degree murder. This event not only drew national scrutiny but also prompted reforms in law enforcement training focused on responding to individuals facing mental health crises, resulting in a $19 million settlement with Glass’s family. The lesser homicide conviction may result in a maximum sentence of three years in prison.
As the jury’s decision was announced, Andrew Buen, previously a deputy with Clear Creek County, displayed a somber demeanor, standing quietly with his attorneys. Upon the conclusion of the proceedings, he was taken into custody and will remain jailed until his sentencing date, set for April 14.
Convictions of police officers for murder are quite uncommon, as highlighted by criminal justice professor Philip Stinson. Over the last twenty years, only nine officers across the United States have been convicted of murder for actions taken in the line of duty. Stinson remarked that Thursday’s outcome aligns with trends observed in similar cases, frequently resulting in lesser charges or, at times, no convictions at all.
Despite the lower charge, Glass’s mother expressed hope that the verdict could prevent future tragedies similar to their loss. “Our son was murdered and we pray that today’s verdict prevents another family from suffering as we have,” Sally Glass remarked in her statement.
During the trial, prosecutors contended that Buen unnecessarily escalated the situation with Glass, who exhibited signs of a mental health crisis and was uncooperative when ordered to exit his vehicle near Silver Plume, a small town in the Rocky Mountains. In contrast, the defense maintained that Buen acted within his rights, claiming self-defense to protect a colleague since Glass was armed with a knife. “Murder was never the appropriate charge in this case, and we are grateful to all of the jurors for recognizing that,” defended attorney Carrie Slinkard noted, indicating that the ruling may have broader implications for law enforcement across Colorado.
This was not Buen’s first trial; about a year earlier, a jury convicted him of misdemeanor reckless endangerment for putting other officers at risk when he opened fire but was deadlocked on murder and misconduct charges. Following discussions with Glass’s family, prosecutors chose to retry him solely on the second-degree murder charge.
While the prosecution did not entirely agree with the latest verdict outcome, Fifth Judicial District Attorney Heidi McCollum acknowledged that it still held Buen accountable for Glass’s death. “The community could not be left with this hanging out there. They needed a resolution to Andrew Buen’s actions. This trial was that resolution,” she stated. Another officer involved in the case had previously pled guilty to a misdemeanor.
Following his vehicle getting stuck, Glass communicated to a 911 dispatcher that he felt he was being followed. His comments suggested he was experiencing paranoia, hallucinations, or delusions related to a mental health crisis. Video footage captured by the body cameras of the responding officers showed Glass making heart shapes with his hands, indicating distress. When attempts were made to remove him from the vehicle using bean bag rounds and a Taser, he still refused to exit. Subsequently, Glass threw a knife out the rear window of his car, which prompted Buen to fire five shots at him. Just moments prior to the shooting, Glass could be heard pleading, “Lord hear me, Lord hear me.”
Sally Glass shared that her son had been diagnosed with depression and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. She noted that he was undergoing a mental health episode during his encounter with law enforcement. The $19 million settlement agreed upon in 2023 marked the largest payout in state history concerning a police-related death. As part of this resolution, Clear Creek County committed to launching a crisis response team and providing crisis intervention training and certification to all its deputies.
Additionally, the state—where three officers were present during the incident—has taken steps to implement a virtual reality training program for the Colorado State Patrol, concentrating on de-escalation tactics in tense situations involving officers from various departments. This training will emphasize the importance of officers stepping in if they believe a colleague is overreacting or needs to disengage from a volatile situation.
From 2005 to 2023, 205 nonfederal law enforcement officers faced charges of murder or manslaughter due to on-duty shootings, as recorded by Stinson and fellow researchers. However, only 68 were ultimately convicted, with just nine receiving murder sentences, which commonly averaged 18 years and varied from 81 months to life imprisonment. Despite growing public scrutiny and the increased utilization of body cameras, significant convictions remain scarce as jurors often hesitate to critique the rapid decisions made by officers during high-stress encounters. “I would have predicted a decade ago we’d see more convictions,” Stinson reflected. “But what we’re seeing is business as usual in law enforcement. Policing does not change quickly.”
