“’This is a very heartbreaking and tragic situation for everyone involved. We are providing assistance through our victim advocates to help the family of the deceased resident through this very difficult time,’ (Aurora, Colorado) Police Chief Nick Metz said in a statement.” That was the Chief’s statement after a homeowner was shot and killed by Aurora police who responded to reports of shots fired inside a home in the Denver suburb. A child was also injured at some point during the incident and has been hospitalized.
From initial media reports, police arrived while a shootout between the unidentified homeowner and an attacker was still going on.
Police said when they arrived the scene was “chaotic and violent” and officers heard gunshots from inside the home at 10609 E. Montview Blvd.
Officers then encountered an armed man and an officer shot the man, killing him.
Details are scarce at this point. Details like exactly where the officers encountered the man they shot. It’s possible the homeowner walked outside holding a firearm after the gunfight inside was over, but again, that isn’t clear.
Investigators later determined the man the officer killed had shot and killed the intruder before police shot and killed him.
Assuming the homeowner did walk out holding a gun, did he in inadvertently raise it toward the officers outside? After hearing the “chaotic and violent” gunfight in the house, did a nervous cop shoot the first person to emerge from the house?
Police said the investigation is ongoing and they are working with the Adams County district attorney’s office as well as Denver police. Because of the ongoing investigation, police said they can’t release further details.
More information could be released later this week after investigators interview all of the parties involved, police said.