A man fatally shot by police in Aurora was brandishing a “replica” assault rifle, police said

AURORA | A man fatally shot by an Aurora police officer in the parking lot of an Aurora apartment on Oct. 3 after an attempted robbery was carrying a tactical air rifle, a replica of an assault rifle, according to Aurora Police Chief Todd Chamberlain.

Chamberlain said the shooting began around 1:30 p.m. when a resident of Brent’s Place in the 1600 block of Oswego Street called police and said two men were arguing outside in a parking lot and one appeared to be armed with an assault rifle . style rifle.

The man has not yet been identified and police body camera video of the shooting has yet to be released.

The would-be robber allegedly attempted to steal a victim’s car keys by brandishing a “tactical replica” of an assault weapon. The suspect and victim fought for a while before the suspect hit the victim in the head with a rock.
The suspect then walked down the street and retrieved the pellet gun from his nearby van while attempting to intimidate community members by, among other things, threatening a woman on the street, Chamberlain said.

“This tactical air rifle replica looks exactly like an authentic AR-15,” Chamberlain said.

When police arrived, police repeatedly asked the suspect to drop the weapon. He pointed it at the officers and one of the officers fired two shots. The shot struck the man, who was taken to a nearby hospital where he died from his injuries, police said.

Chamberlain said it was still unknown whether the replica gun could fire anything.

“I don’t know why he felt the need to continue and escalate after the officers arrived,” Chamberlain said, “but I do know that those officers were responding to a very, very volatile, very, very dangerous situation.” and they took the action at that point, and the perception in their mind was the only right path they could take.”

The investigation is ongoing and Chamberlain said police are looking into questions about the suspect’s actions. He plans to contact family and friends to find out the cause.

Shortly before the incident, the suspect was said to have visited his girlfriend at the apartments where the shooting occurred.

“We believe that there is a possible girlfriend of our suspect in this apartment complex, and from initial conversations with her we know that she was intimidated, afraid of his actions and behavior and would not let him enter this apartment.” said Chamberlain.

There was a van parked in front of Brent’s Place in which the suspect probably lived, officers believe.

Brent’s Place provides housing for families with children or adults receiving long-term medical care at one of several health care facilities near the Anschutz Medical Campus.

The question is whether this was a mental health crisis that did not require police intervention. Chamberlain said given the appearance of an assault rifle and the level of violence the man displayed, police were the necessary response.

Chamberlain said it was “alarming” that a fight involving someone armed with an “AR-like” weapon occurred at a location where dozens of families were gathering for medical care and near a nearby one middle school.

Coroner’s officials will release the man’s identity and body camera footage will be released after police release the footage to the family.

Chamberlain did not provide details about the officers involved in the shooting other than to say they were placed on paid administrative leave, which is standard police protocol.

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