ENGLEWOOD, Colo. (KDVR) — A late teenager’s family has filed a lawsuit against the former police officer charged with murder in his killing.
Adam Holen faces a count of second-degree murder in the November shooting death of 17-year-old Peyton Blitstein. Blitstein’s father filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Holen on Wednesday in Arapahoe County District Court.
“Even if a jury finds that Mr. Holen did not break the law, he certainly violated Peyton’s rights under Colorado civil law, and this will hold him accountable,” Birk Baumgartner, the attorney who filed the lawsuit, told FOX31’s Lori Jane Gliha.
Holen, who was 36 at the time of the shooting, is accused of threatening a group of teens with his gun before exchanging gunfire with and killing Blitstein on Nov. 24.
FOX31’s Lori Jane Gliha also spoke with Blitstein’s father, Todd, after the lawsuit was filed. He said the months since his son’s death have been “horrible.”
“You wake up expecting to see a text message and stuff like that, but instead, you have to grab the necklace that you wear with his ashes,” Todd Blitstein said.
He said his son wanted to join the military “to defend all of us.” He said he feels the lawsuit will hold Holen accountable.
“This is long overdue and this is going to add to the justice that Peyton really deserves. And it just prevents Adam from having free reign and lets him know that we’re going to do whatever we can to stick up for Peyton and his beliefs, and just him as my son,” Todd Blitstein said.
Lawsuit alleges teen was shot 9 times
The lawsuit claims Holen confronted Blitstein and a group of teens over their driving as they pulled up to a home near his on South Addison Way. It claims Holen pulled out a loaded gun and pointed it at least one of the teens.
“Peyton, who was also armed, perceived the threat and, remarkably, was able to shoot towards Defendant (Holen) in an act of self-defense before Defendant began firing,” the lawsuit claims.
“Defendant (Holen) continued advancing on Peyton and fired nine (9) shots striking Peyton multiple times,” according to the lawsuit.
Blitstein died, and Holen was treated for a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. Home surveillance video captured the incident.
Baumgartner said Holen’s murder case could take up to two years to move through the courts.
Holen resigned from the Greenwood Village Police Department weeks before the incident, according to a copy of his Nov. 1 resignation letter obtained by FOX31.