The estate of a 30-year-old Colorado woman who was fatally shot by law enforcement officers during a vehicle pursuit has filed a lawsuit against the City of Thornton and three police officers involved in the incident.
Jasmine Castro was shot at least thirteen times, predominantly in her back and the back of her head, during an encounter that began as an investigation into a missing license plate on April 30, 2024, at approximately 2:37 a.m. The lawsuit, filed in Jefferson County District Court, names officers Mark Faivre, Tim Fuss, and Schott Schilb, along with the City of Thornton.
Castro was a passenger in an Infiniti EX driven by Joby Vigil when members of Thornton’s proactive IMPACT team noticed the vehicle lacked a license plate. The officers, operating in unmarked vehicles and wearing plain clothes, initiated a pursuit that extended from Adams County through multiple jurisdictions, including onto highways and into Lakewood.
According to the 12-page complaint, the pursuing officers failed to notify local law enforcement agencies about the ongoing chase and did not identify themselves to the vehicle’s occupants. The estate’s filing emphasizes that from the perspective of those inside the Infiniti, they were being pursued by unidentified individuals in unmarked cars throughout the metropolitan Denver area in the middle of the night.
The pursuit concluded when the Infiniti stopped at a gas station. Officers reported hearing gunshots directed at them before the vehicle fled again, ultimately crashing in a ditch. The complaint details that Officer Faivre was approximately 10 feet away when he opened fire on Castro as she attempted to exit through the car window headfirst.
Officer Fuss subsequently discharged his handgun at Castro, later stating he observed what appeared to be a black object in her hand. Officer Schilb, armed with an assault rifle, fired multiple rounds at Castro while she was on the ground, after reportedly seeing a firearm near her and believing she might use it. Vigil was also shot by Officer Faivre, who believed Vigil was armed.
The First Judicial District Attorney’s Office conducted a review of the incident, with District Attorney Alexis King ultimately deciding not to pursue criminal charges against the officers. However, in her decision letter, King expressed criticism of the city’s use-of-force policy and stated that the officers’ perceptions of imminent threat and their decisions to shoot were not reasonable.
The lawsuit cites unreasonable seizure and excessive use of force as primary claims. Jason Kosloski, representing the Castro family, characterized the incident as horrific and indicated the case concerns a pattern of conduct and systemic failures that resulted in Castro’s death.
Nancy Castro, Jasmine’s mother, expressed the profound impact of losing her daughter, describing an irreplaceable void in her life and the permanent absence of her daughter’s voice and smile.
The question of who was driving the Infiniti at the time of the incident remains disputed between the city and the family. Thornton, located approximately 10 miles north of Denver with a population of about 150,000 residents, has declined to comment on the pending litigation.
The case highlights ongoing concerns about police use of force, particularly in situations involving unmarked vehicles and plainclothes officers conducting traffic-related investigations.
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