The Adams County District Attorney has decided not to seek the death penalty against Brian Washington in the shooting death of Aurora police Detective Michael D. Thomas.

D.A. Don Quick said this morning he consulted with the Aurora police and the Thomas family before making the decision.

"I acknowledge and respect the opinion of those who believe we should seek the death penalty for the murder of Detective Thomas. However, at the end of the day, it is my obligation to make the decision based on the evidence, the law and what course is the best choice to ensure that Mr. Washington is held accountable for the murder of Detective Thomas," Quick wrote in a statement issued today.

Today would be the deadline to file notice with the district court if prosecutors intended to seek the death penalty.

Washington, 27, is accused of walking up to Thomas' car window on an Aurora street on Sept. 20 and shooting Thomas to death at point-blank range.

Thomas was in plain clothes driving his own vehicle and it's not clear whether Washington knew he was an officer. Murder of a police officer is one of the factor that can bring the death penalty, under Colorado law.

Washington was not in court today because his sanity is being evaluated at the state hospital in Pueblo in connection with an attack two days earlier. In that case, he is charged with firing a gun at Vernice Griffin, 55, in her car as she was driving at the intersection of East 33rd Avenue and Pontiac Street in Denver.

Griffin ducked and wasn't injured.

Washington pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity in the Griffin case and his defense attorney, Todd L. Nelson, told Adams County District Judge C. Vincent Phelps today that he would enter a similar plea in the slaying of Thomas.