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The Aurora Police News Blog was created in 2016 as a new way to share news and information from the Aurora Police Department with the community we serve. It is maintained by the staff of the Public Information Officer.
Public Information Officer Staff:
Sergeant Faith Goodrich - Unit Supervisor
Agent Matthew Longshore - Public Information Officer
Joe Moylan - Public Information Officer
Sydney Edwards - Public Information Officer
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DISCLAIMER: Information is subject to change as case investigations proceed. Individuals arrested on the basis of probable cause have not been charged. All arrestees are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
(March 10, 2022) The Aurora Police Department has made four arrests in connection to a shooting that occurred on Wednesday Night at the Quality Inn.
Shortly after the initial shooting call, Aurora911 received a report of another person shot at North Chambers Road and East Smith Road. Officers from the Aurora Police Gang Intervention Unit contacted three juvenile males and one 18-year-old male. They discovered that the adult male was suffering from a gunshot wound. He was transported to a local hospital for treatment.
Officers were quickly able to determine that all the subjects had been involved in the shooting and took them into custody. The adult male was taken into custody this afternoon after he was released from the hospital. All four of the subjects have been arrested for 1st Degree Murder. Due to their ages Aurora Police will not be releasing the names or booking photos of the juveniles. The adult who was arrested is Rafael Bergeron Martinez of Westminster.
Detectives are still looking for witnesses and other people who may have been involved in the altercation that lead up to this shooting. Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720.913.7867.
“I want to highlight the exceptional teamwork that these arrests represent. Our officers and detectives from patrol, the Gang Unit and the Major Crimes Homicide Unit worked quickly to apprehend these violent criminals.”
--Vanessa Wilson, Chief of Police
“Last night, our community was, once again, shaken by the news of gun violence involving young people. A 16-year-old is dead, and several others are hurt as a result of this mass shooting. This is yet another horrific case of a teen losing their life because too many young people have easy and unsupervised access to firearms. Parents and trusted adults, please talk with teens about whether they have a gun. Gun owners, sales of guns spiked during COVID and we are seeing many guns being stolen out of vehicles or other unsecure locations that end up in the hands of teenagers. Please secure your guns properly so you can ensure that there is one less gun out on the street.”
--District Attorney Brian Mason, 17th Judicial District (Adams and Broomfield Counties)
Rafael Bergeron Martinez, DOB: 12/08/2003
Lieutenant Chris Amsler
Public Information Officer
Media Relations Unit
720.432.5095
Information previously released on March 10, 2022:
(March 10) The Aurora Police Major Crimes Homicide Unit is investigating after a juvenile was shot and killed. Two other adult females were transported to the hospital, and a fourth victim self-transported to the hospital.
On March 9, 2022, about 07:05 p.m., the Aurora Police Department responded to the Quality Inn, located at 3300 N Ouray Street, on a report of a shooting inside the hotel, near the pool. Upon officers' arrival, they located a 16-year-old male juvenile suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Tragically, the juvenile was pronounced deceased on the scene.
Shortly after the shooting, officers located a 20-year-old and a 19-year-old adult female suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Both females were transported to a local hospital in serious condition. The suspects left the scene prior to officers' arrival.
At approximately 07:39 p.m., officers were advised that a fourth victim, of unknown age, had self-transported to the hospital suffering from an apparent gunshot wound and expected to survive.
Detectives from the department's Major Crimes Homicide Unit responded to the scene and were responsible for this investigation. At this early stage in the investigation, the facts and circumstances that led up to this death, to include suspect descriptions, are still being determined.
The Adams County Coroner's Office will release the victim's name after positive identification and notification of next-of-kin.
Anyone who witnessed this shooting or has information about this homicide is asked to call Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720.913.7867. By using Crime Stoppers, tipsters can remain anonymous and are eligible for a reward of up to $2,000.
This is Aurora's seventh homicide of 2022.
Officer Francisco Saucedo
Public Information Officer
Media Relations Unit
720.432.5095
(February 17) The Aurora Police Major Crimes Homicide Unit is investigating after a woman dies, male transported to the hospital, following an early morning shooting in Aurora.
On February 17, 2022, at 6:56 a.m., the Aurora Police Department responded to the Glen at the Park Apartments, 291 South Jasper Circle, on reports of a shooting. At this time, it appears that an argument ensued prior to the shooting. Officers located a 38-year-old woman who had been shot and was pronounced deceased on scene. A 28-year-old man was also found shot with what appeared to be a self-inflicted wound and was transported to the hospital in serious condition, but expected to survive. The man and woman were known to one another and are believed to have been in a relationship. A gun was recovered at the residence. No charges have been filed in this case and the investigation is ongoing.
A teenager was inside of the home at the time of the incident. Support and resources are being provide by members of our Victim Services Unit.
The Arapahoe County Coroner’s Office will release the victim’s name after positive identification and notification of next-of-kin.
If you or someone you know is a victim of or experiencing domestic violence, there are a number of resources readily available. You can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800.799.7233, texting SMART to 88788, or visit ViolenceFreeColorado.org. Additional resources and information is available by visiting: https://www.auroragov.org/residents/public_safety/police/victim_services___rights
Agent Matthew Longshore
Public Information Officer
Media Relations Unit
720.432.5095
(February 9) The suspect that was identified in this case was killed this evening after an officer-involved shooting.
More details about that incident can be found HERE.
Agent Matthew Longshore
Public Information Officer
Media Relations Unit
720.432.5095
Information Previously Release
(February 6) The Aurora Police Major Crimes Homicide Unit is needing the public’s assistance in locating a man wanted for killing a woman, injuring two men, inside of an Aurora Church.
On February 4, 2022, about 08:15 p.m., the Aurora Police Department responded to 538 North Olathe Street, Iglesia Faro De Luz, on reports of a shooting. Since that time, Detectives with Aurora’s Major Crimes Homicide Unit have been interviewing witnesses, examining physical evidence and attempting to positively identify the suspect responsible for this shooting.
After numerous interviews, Aurora Police Detectives have now identified the suspect as:
Jose De Jesus Montoya Villa (01/11/1991)
Jose has an active arrest warrant for 1st Degree Murder. We are asking anyone who has information on the whereabouts of Jose to either contact your local law enforcement agency or Metro Denver Crime Stoppers. By using Crime Stoppers, tipsters can remain anonymous.
There is currently a reward of up to $2,000 for information leading to the arrest of Jose.
Agent Matthew Longshore
Public Information Officer
Media Relations Unit
720.432.5095
.png "Jose De Jesus Montoya Villa")
Information Previously Released
(February 4) The Aurora Police Major Crimes Homicide Unit is investigating after a woman killed, two other men shot, inside of a church in Aurora.
On February 4, 2022, about 08:15 p.m., the Aurora Police Department responded to 538 North Olathe Street, Iglesia Faro De Luz, on reports of a shooting. Officers located a 36-year-old woman, a 42-year-old man and a 40-year-old man, all suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. The woman was tragically pronounced deceased on scene. The two men were transported to the hospital, expected to survive. A fourth adult was also transported to the hospital for other medical reasons.
Detectives from the department’s Major Crimes Homicide Unit responded to the scene and will be responsible for this investigation. Early information obtained is that there was an event at the church tonight where approximately 15-20 people were in attendance. Investigators do know that there is a personal connection between the suspect and one of the shooting victims. The facts and circumstances that led up to this shooting are still be determined.
The Arapahoe County Coroner’s Office will release the victim’s name after positive identification and notification of next-of-kin.
Anyone who may have observed anything suspicious, or has information about this case, and have not yet spoken to police, is asked to call Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720.913.7867. By using Crime Stoppers, tipsters can remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000.
Agent Matthew Longshore
Public Information Officer
Media Relations Unit
720.432.5095
On January 30th, 2022 at approximately 4:55a.m. Aurora Police responded to a report of a shooting at a residence in the 1500 block of North Dallas Street in northwest Aurora.
Upon arrival officers located an adult male suffering from a gunshot wound. He was transported to an area hospital where he succumbed to his injuries. Investigators believe that there was a gathering at the residence when shots were fired and the man was struck. At this time no arrests have been made and no suspect(s) have been identified.
The name of the victim is not being released at this time and will be released by the Adams County Coroner's Office once the victim has been positively identified and his next of kin have been notified of his death.
Anyone with information about this homicide is asked to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720.913.7807. Tipsters are eligible for a reward of up to $2,000 and may remain anonymous.
Lieutenant Chris Amsler-PIO
Commanding Officer
Media Relations Unit
720.432.5095
(January 18) The Aurora Police Major Crimes Homicide Unit is investigating after a man was found shot, dies a short time later, in northwest Aurora.
On January 18, 2022, about 11:00 p.m., the Aurora Police Department responded to the area of East 16th Avenue and North Lansing Street on reports of a man-down. Officers located a 63-year-old man lying in the roadway, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. This man was transported to the hospital where he was later pronounced deceased.
Detectives from the department’s Major Crimes Homicide Unit responded to the scene and will be responsible for this investigation. At this early stage in the investigation, the facts and circumstances that led up to this death, to include suspect descriptions, are still be determined.
A white truck was located nearby that had been involved in a crash. The truck was stolen and unoccupied. Detectives have towed this vehicle and will process it, but we are uncertain if this vehicle is directly related to this homicide.
The Adams County Coroner’s Office will release the victim’s name after positive identification and notification of next-of-kin.
We are seeking the public's assistance. Anyone who may have observed anything suspicious, or has information about this case, is asked to call Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720.913.7867. By using Crime Stoppers, tipsters can remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000.
This is Aurora’s first homicide of 2022.
Agent Matthew Longshore
Public Information Officer
Media Relations Unit
720.432.5095
(December 31) The Aurora Police Major Crimes Homicide Unit is investigating after a woman, who had been kidnapped in Aurora, was found dead in Douglas County today.
On December 16, 2021, the Aurora Police Major Crimes Unit was notified by the Fort Collins Police Department regarding a missing person that they had been investigating. Information obtained through their investigation led detectives to believe that the missing person, a 29-year-old woman, was last seen in Aurora.
Aurora Police Major Crimes Unit immediately began investigating the case and believed that the woman might have been kidnapped in the area of East Colfax Avenue and North Victor Street on November 6. The suspects, two men and a woman, were last seen driving a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. Detectives continually worked this case, following up on leads and gathering evidence, when they discovered that the Malibu was seen in Douglas County, near North State Highway 83 and Russellville Road, on November 7.
The vehicle has since been recovered and the three people believed to be involved are in custody.
The two men and woman involved with the female’s disappearance were arrested by local police in Sheridan Wyoming on December 29 for unrelated charges. Detectives from the Aurora Police Major Crimes Unit drove up to Wyoming that day to question them. The next day, December 30, Aurora Police Detectives secured warrants for their arrest for first degree kidnapping. The three suspects currently remain in custody at the Sheridan County Detention Center.
Today, with the assistance of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, investigators responded to that area of Highway 83 and Russellville Road where they located a deceased female, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. The identity of this female will be confirmed and released by the Douglas County Coroner’s Office after a positive identification and notification of next-of-kin.
The three suspects, previously charged with First Degree Kidnapping, will most likely be charged with First Degree Murder in the coming days. Included below are their booking photographs, courtesy of the Sheridan (WY) County Detention Center, and their names and ages are:
Shantel Edlund – 43 years old – from Sheridan Wyoming
Casey Childers – 39 years old – from Casper Wyoming
Leo VanBuskirk – 23 years old – from Sheridan Wyoming
We want to thank our partners from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Fort Collins Police Department, Sheridan (WY) Police Department, Sheridan (WY) County Sheriff’s Office and the Wyoming Department of Criminal Investigations for their assistance in this complex investigation.
Anyone who might have information about this case, and has not yet spoke to police, is asked to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720.913.7867. Tipsters can also remain anonymous.
Agent Matthew Longshore
Public Information Officer
Media Relations Unit
720.432.5095
(December 27) On December 26, 2021, at approximately 10:45 p.m., Officers with the Aurora Police Department responded to the 900 block of S Peoria Street on reports of a shooting. When officers arrived on the scene, they located a 57-year-old male suffering from a gunshot wound. The male was pronounced dead at the scene. The suspect left the scene before officers arrived.
The Aurora Police Department Major Crimes Homicide Unit responded to the scene and is investigating this homicide. At this early stage in the investigation, the facts and circumstances that led up to the death, to include suspect information, are still being determined. There is no threat to the public.
The Arapahoe County Coroner’s Office will release the identity of the male after he has been positively identified and his next-of-kin has been notified.
Anyone who witnessed this shooting or has information about this homicide is asked to call Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720.913.7867. By using Crime Stoppers, tipsters can remain anonymous and are eligible for a reward of up to $2,000.
Officer Francisco Saucedo
Public Information Officer
Media Relations Unit
720.432.5095
(December 25) An argument at the Chelsea Park Village Apartments leads to shots being fired, leaving one dead.
On December 25, 2021, at approximately 06:36 p.m., the Aurora Police Department responded to the Chelsea Park Village Apartments, located at 86 North Oakland Street, on reports of a shooting. Officers located a 35-year-old male suffering from a gunshot wound. He was transported to the hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
Investigators from the Major Crimes Homicide Unit responded to the scene and will be responsible for investigating this homicide. The initial investigation reveals that there was an argument between two adult males outside of the apartment complex, who were known to each other. At some point during the argument, both adults produced firearms, and one of them shot the other. The shooter, a 33-year-old male, was not injured and stayed on the scene, and is cooperating with investigators. All witnesses on the scene are cooperating with investigators.
The Arapahoe County Coroner’s Office will release the identity of the deceased after he has been positively identified and next-of-kin notified.
Detectives are actively working to determine who the primary aggressor is and the circumstances leading up to the shots being fired, but no arrests have been made at this moment. This investigation is ongoing. There is no threat to the public.
Anyone with information that has not yet spoken to police is asked to reach out to the Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720.913.7867, where tipsters can remain anonymous and still be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000.
Officer Francisco Saucedo
Public Information Officer
Media Relations Unit
720.432.5095
(December 22) The Aurora Police Major Crimes/Homicide Unit is announcing the arrest of Adam Holen (DOB: 02/21/1985). Holen was arrested for Colorado Revised Statute 18-3-103 2nd Degree Murder in relation to this homicide. The booking photo for Holen has been provided at the bottom of this news release.
This homicide is being prosecuted by the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office and any additional media inquiries should be directed there.
Officer Francisco Saucedo
Public Information Officer
Media Relations Unit
720.432.5095
Information previously released on November 25, 2021
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
(November 25) An argument in a southeast Aurora neighborhood leads to shots being fired between an adult and a teenager, who later died.
On November 24, 2021, at approximately 10:30 p.m., the Aurora Police Department responded to the 4900 block of South Addison Way on reports of a shooting. Officers located two males, both suffering from a gunshot wound. One of the persons shot, a 17-year-old, was transported to a local hospital where he was tragically pronounced deceased. The other, a 36-year-old, was also transported to the hospital where he is expected to survive.
Detectives from the department's Major Crimes Homicide Unit responded to the scene and will be responsible for this investigation. After interviewing witnesses on scene, it is believed that there was an argument between the adult and a group of teenagers, after alleged careless driving through the neighborhood. At some point during the argument, both the adult and teenager produced firearms, and both fired shots at one another. Detectives are actively working to determine who the primary aggressor is and the circumstances leading up to the shot being fired, but no arrests have been made. Investigators will continue to work closely with the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.
It should be noted that the adult involved in this shooting is a former Greenwood Village Police Officer and is not currently employed by any other law enforcement agencies.
The identity of the deceased will be released by the Arapahoe County Coroner’s Office after the teenager has been positively identified and his next-of-kin notified.
Detectives will continue interviewing witnesses but are asking anyone that may have observed this incident, and have not yet spoken to police, to please reach out to the Aurora Police Major Crimes Homicide Unit or Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720.913.7867, where tipsters can remain anonymous.
Agent Matthew Longshore
Public Information Officer
Media Relations Unit
720.432.5095
(December 4) On Saturday, December 4, 2021, at approximately 07:46 a.m., Officers responded to a report of a shooting in the 1400 block of North Akron Street.
When officers arrived on the scene, they located an adult male suffering from life-threatening injuries. Tragically, the male died from his injuries. The Aurora Police Major Crimes Homicide Unit detectives responded and are conducting the investigation. At this early stage in the investigation, the facts and circumstances that led up to the death, to include suspect information, are still being determined.
The Arapahoe County Coroner's Office will release the victim's name after a positive identification and notification of next-of-kin.
We are seeking the public's assistance. Anyone who may have observed anything suspicious, or has information about this case, is asked to call Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720.913.7867. By using Crime Stoppers, tipsters can remain anonymous and be eligible for a REWARD of up to $2,000.
Officer Francisco Saucedo
Public Information Officer
Media Relations Unit
720.432.5095
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