Police chief reports that the man fatally shot in Aurora was attacking and holding his own mother hostage.

During a Monday briefing, Aurora Police Department Chief Todd Chamberlain revealed the details surrounding the fatal shooting of an 18-year-old man by Aurora police early Sunday morning. According to Chamberlain, the man was holding his mother hostage in an apartment and was beating her with a gun before turning his weapon on the police.

The incident began when two residents in the apartment complex on South Vaughn Way called 911 at around 11:15 p.m. on Saturday to report that the man was physically assaulting his mother with a handgun. The roommates stated that when they tried to intervene, the man pointed the gun at them and his mother, preventing her from leaving.

Police arrived at the scene at 11:28 p.m. and quickly requested an armored vehicle for backup. At this point, officers were unsure if the man's gun was real, but the roommates confirmed that they had seen him load a magazine and rack the gun. Despite attempts to communicate with the man in both English and Spanish using a phone and bullhorn, he did not respond.

The man and his mother had only recently immigrated from Venezuela in 2021. The mother was eventually able to leave the apartment and was met by officers. However, just 30 seconds later, the man emerged from the doorway and began shooting at the police, hitting their armored vehicle.

In response to this "incredibly aggressive, dangerous and life-threatening" act, officers fired several rounds at the man, striking him. He fell in the doorway and police immediately attempted to perform life-saving measures. He was then transported to the hospital, where he later passed away.

Chamberlain emphasized that the police had tried to de-escalate the situation using every means possible. This is a concern that was also raised in a recent report by the department's independent consent decree monitor regarding the fatal shooting of Kilyn Lewis.

As per department policy for police shootings, one officer is currently on administrative leave. The body-worn camera footage of the incident will be released to the man's family before it is made public, according to Chamberlain. As of now, the man's identity has not been released by the Arapahoe County Coroner's Office.

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