Concerned about the way early information is being disseminated about the death of their daughter, the parents of slain Denver teen Jessica Hernandez are demanding that federal officials conduct a totally separate probe in the shooting.

The FreeThoughtProject.com project reports Jessica Hernandez was shot as many as 18 times on the morning of Jan. 26 after she and four other youths were confronted by officers responding to a call of a suspicious vehicle parked in an alley.

"We believe that a federal investigation is the only way to uncover the truth because we have little confidence in the Denver Police Department's ability to conduct a fair and timely investigation," the family said in a statement released by attorney Qusair Mohamedbhai.

More specifically, the family has now requested that U.S. Attorney John Walsh man the probe, prompting Mayor Michael Hancock to issue a statement calling for greater calm and patience even as demonstrations have broken out all over the city.

"I encourage everyone to allow for a thorough investigation so that we can understand all the facts," he said.

The Colorado Latino Forum is also calling for a special prosecutor to probe the case, insisting they have "no confidence in the Denver district attorney's office to make a fair charging determination." As part of their demand, the group also stresses how Hernandez's body was treated after she was shot, saying even then officer "dragged and handcuffed her."

Police have insisted after officers arrived, they quickly uncovered that the vehicle was stolen and ordered the youths out of the vehicle.

At least one witness in the car has strongly disputed that version of events, telling 9news.com. The officer never said anything and simply opened fire on the vehicle. As far one of the officers being pinned under the car and suffering a broken leg, the witness insists the car only moved after the shots started to rang out.

Hernandez's death illustrates the fourth time over just the last seven months Denver cops have opened fire on a moving vehicle and later said they felt threatened. Over that time, two suspects have been killed and three others injured. At least three police officers have also been injured in the incidents.

Police have identified the two officers involved in the Hernandez shooting as Daniel Greene and Gabriel Jordan.

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