The parents of New Zealand-born Christian Glass, who was shot and killed by US police during a standoff in June 2022, commended the Colorado District Attorney for the charges laid against six officers involved today.
Glass, 22, was shot and killed after calling 911 for roadside assistance while experiencing what his mother had described as a mental health crisis, according to online court records.
Earlier this morning, six police officers present when Glass was killed were handed charges for failure to intervene.
One of the officers, who used a taser on Glass according to an indictment, was also charged with third-degree assault.
Parents Sally and Simon Glass remember their son as "a gentle soul, a treasured brother and son who loved art and geology".
"The additional charges announced today are especially significant because they recognize that Deputy Buen and Sergeant Gould did not act alone," they wrote in a statement.
"Each of the six officers charged today had ample opportunity to stop the unjustified and senseless use of force against Christian Glass.
"They took part in and enabled a plan to use criminal and unlawful force against Christian.
"Had any one of these six officers stepped up to do the right thing, Christian would be alive today."
The parents said the District Attorney's prosecution of the officers sends a clear message on accountability: "All law enforcement officers have a duty to stop unlawful, criminal acts committed by other officers in their presence.
"When they fail to do so, they will be brought to justice."
Yesterday former sergeant Kyle Gould, who was not at the scene but authorised actions such as breaking Glass' car window over the phone, pleaded guilty to charges of criminally negligent homicide and reckless endangerment.
Former deputy sheriff Andrew Buen, who shot and killed Glass, has pleaded not guilty to charges of second-degree murder, official misconduct and reckless endangerment and faces trial at a later date.
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