PHOTOS: View more images from Tuesday morning’s Jessie Hernandez protests in Denver

Denver’s independent monitor on Tuesday announced he is launching an evaluation of the police department’s policies on shooting at moving vehicles after the fourth shooting in seven months of people who officers said were using cars as weapons.

The family of 17-year-old Jessica Hernandez has questions, too, after the teen was fatally shot multiple times by police early Monday in an alley in the Park Hill neighborhood.

“How can they shoot her when she doesn’t have a gun?” said her father, Jose.

Jessie, as her family calls her, was behind the wheel of a car that had been reported stolen Sunday night, and police have said she drove the Honda toward officers who were trying to question her and four other teens inside the vehicle.

Tension over the killing continued to simmer Tuesday as Jessie’s family and friends, as well as Denver clergy and community activists, descended on District Attorney Mitch Morrissey’s office to demand more transparency in police-shooting investigations.

So far, police have released few details about the shooting, including whether any of the five teens in the car were armed or who reported the car stolen.

“We’re not going to trickle out the facts of the case,” said Sonny Jackson, a police department spokesman. “We’re going to be transparent and will release information when we can.”

Jessie was the oldest of six siblings and has a large, tight-knit extended family of cousins, aunts and uncles.

She and her siblings lived with their parents, Jose and Laura Hernandez, in a mobile home in Thornton.

Inside the home Tuesday, four candles burned around a bouquet of daisies and roses and pictures of Jessie. In a school photo, she is a 6-year-old, slyly smiling. In another photo, she is a teen beaming in a portrait with Santa Claus. A rosary lay on a table in front of the flowers and pictures.

“We want justice,” said her aunt Amparo Gonzalez.

Jessie’s parents spent Tuesday making funeral and burial arrangements, something they are struggling to pay for, Jose Hernandez said.

Jessie and sister Joanna, her sibling nearest in age, were extremely close, friends and family said.

Last year, Jessie took on odd jobs to save money to buy a puppy. She ended up buying two — one for her and one for her sister. On Tuesday, the family dogs, Simba and Precious, wrestled on the living floor as a host of extended family members came and went.

Friends remembered Jessie as a fun-loving girl who was extremely loyal to her friends.

“It didn’t matter the situation she was going through, she would be there for you,” said Lizbeth Palmer, a 15-year-old friend.

Jessie attended New America School-Thornton, a charter school that specializes in educating immigrant and at-risk students, said principal Mike Epke.

“It’s a loss to our school,” he said.

A few students had sought counseling Tuesday, Epke said. He planned to huddle in the afternoon with teachers to discuss the mood of students, especially in light of recent national protests over deaths at the hands of police.

Nick Mitchell, Denver’s independent monitor, said in a statement that he will assess the police department’s policies, practices and training in the wake of the four shootings and compare them to national standards and other police departments across the country.

On Tuesday, Mitchell notified Denver Police Chief Robert White of his intentions.

“Shootings involving moving vehicles pose unique potential safety risks to both officers and the community,” Mitchell said in his statement.

The scene was heated at the Denver district attorney’s office as a small group of protesters had an aggressive confrontation with representatives for Morrissey. The district attorney was said to be away at the time.

“How would you feel if your kid got killed?” asked Jose Castaneda, a cousin of the slain girl, as he stood inches from their faces.

“We do our best to listen,” Lamar Sims, chief deputy district attorney, told the protesters.

Some of the protesters said that wasn’t enough.

“They can fix his leg,” Castaneda said of the lone struck officer, who was treated for a leg injury and released. “What are they going to do to bring her home?”

Castaneda told the crowd he wants answers.

“I don’t want no murder charges,” he said. “I just want someone to help my family out.”

The shooting happened about 6:30 a.m. Monday near the intersection of East 25th Avenue and Newport Street. A volley of shots rang out as neighbors were waking. Neighbors said the shots were followed by screams and cries.

Friends of Jessie’s said she had been out all night with her friends, including another girl she was dating.

On Tuesday night, friends and family members held a candlelight vigil in a park near Pecos Street and West 85th Avenue.

Jessie’s mother and grandmother wailed as they held onto each other. An uncle walked away to try to get his sobs under control.

Jose Hernandez almost struggled to breathe as he tried to describe his anguish. He said police told him his daughter had been shot once.

However, Denver’s medical examiner said she had been shot multiple times.

“She’s always happy,” Jose Hernandez said of his daughter. “You know what her sister says? She wouldn’t even kill a fly.”

Noelle Phillips: 303-954-1661, nphillips@denverpost.com or twitter.com/Noelle_Phillips