Aurora Police Dept

Aurora (CO) Police Department is committed to a #SaferAurora. Site not monitored 24/7. Emergency? 9-1-1 Non-emergency? 303.627.3100 💙 💙

[Aurora Police Dept @AuroraPD]

NEWS RELEASE: A man has been arrested in connection with a shooting that left a woman injured Thursday night.

Shortly before 7:30 p.m. on July 16, 2026, the Aurora Police Department responded to reports of a shooting in the 3100 block of N. Nome Street. Responding officers found two women, one of whom had suffered a gunshot wound to her lower body. The other woman was unharmed.

Additional officers in the area stopped a man in a vehicle a short distance away. The vehicle with the gun inside was subsequently seized. The driver, identified as 42-year-old GEO Group employee Brandon Booth, was detained.

An initial investigation revealed that the women were part of a protest occurring near the Aurora ICE Processing Center earlier that evening. Booth was waiting in his vehicle along Nome Street with other employees due to the protest impeding their ability to gain access to the facility for their work shifts. The two women initiated a verbal confrontation and took pictures of the employees’ vehicles before walking away.

At that point, Booth retrieved his personally owned pistol and fired a single shot in their direction, striking one of the women on her lower body. Booth then got into his vehicle and drove out of the area before he was detained.

Detectives from the Aurora Police Department’s Violent Crimes Section responded to the scene to conduct the investigation. Booth was subsequently arrested and booked on probable cause of attempted second-degree murder, first degree assault, attempted first degree assault, felony menacing, and unlawful carrying of a concealed weapon.

The woman who was shot was transported to the hospital and treated for her injuries, which are believed to be non-life threatening.

“This is a tragedy on all fronts, and the Aurora Police Department will investigate this incident with the same commitment to transparency and integrity as we do all shootings,” said Aurora Chief of Police Todd Chamberlain. “We remain committed to ensuring an ethical, thorough, objective, and comprehensive review of this case. Violence of any kind will not be tolerated in Aurora. Constitutional rights are a pivotal part of a just society – violence is not.”

This case remains under active investigation. Any decisions regarding the formal filing of criminal charges will be made by the 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office. Anyone with any additional information about this incident, including any footage, is asked to please contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP (7867). Tipsters may remain anonymous and could be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000.

[FBI Denver @FBIDenver]

Lashaya Stine was last seen July 15, 2016, in Aurora, CO. If you have any information about her disappearance, contact @AuroraPD @CrimeStoppersCO or the FBI at https://t.co/nfbjZhdWhf or 1-800-CALL-FBI.

[Aurora Police Dept @AuroraPD]

Emergency crews are currently on scene of a fatal single vehicle crash at E. Louisiana Ave and S. Dunkirk Street. All north and southbound lanes of S. Dunkirk Street are shut down and are anticipated to remain closed for the next couple of hours, while the investigation takes place. Please seek alternative routes.

@AuroraFireDpt is also on scene to assist. We will share more as we are able.

[Aurora Police Dept @AuroraPD]

OHVs, e-motors, dirt bikes...we’ve talked about them before and we know our community has continued to share concerns about the safety issues and disruptions caused by illegal use of these vehicles.

So, we’re adding another tool to help address the problem.

We’ve launched a new reporting option through Access Aurora that allows community members to share information about illegal vehicles and illegal use of these vehicles. It’s located in the same place where you report other community concerns. When you report be sure to include The date and time of the incident, a description of the vehicle and rider and be sure to add the pin to the map of the exact location where it occurred.

This is not for emergencies. If there is an immediate threat or someone is in danger, call 911.

This is simply another tool to help our officers and our community work together to identify and address these ongoing concerns.

You can find the page here: https://t.co/hy2RtCPpUY

[Media Description: Walk through of Access Aurora webpage and reporting.]

[Aurora Police Dept @AuroraPD]

We found our missing girl's family. Thank you to everyone who provided tips and information.

[Aurora Police Dept @AuroraPD]

@lockechrisj Thanks for sharing. Could you report this to our new OHV/E-Bike reporting system? Here's a link: https://t.co/Ppd8vCZsYE

[Aurora Police Dept @AuroraPD]

We don't guess where to focus traffic enforcement. We follow the data.➡️

After an 86% reduction in crashes at I-225 and Parker Road, we're applying that same strategy at I-225 and Mississippi Avenue, Aurora's second-highest crash location along a highway corridor.

Today, our Motor Unit targeted the violations most often associated with crashes: speeding, traffic control violations and careless driving. New safety signs are also in place to encourage drivers to slow down and pay attention.

By the end of the morning, officers had issued 22 citations.

Our goal isn't to write tickets. Our goal is fewer crashes, fewer injuries and safer roads for everyone.

[Media Description: Motors officers pulling drivers over and patrol the overpass at Mississippi and I-225.]

[City of Aurora, CO @AuroraGov]

A single northbound lane of Airport Boulevard at Smith Road will be closed from Tuesday, July 14, until further notice while emergency repairs are completed on the railroad track adjacent to Smith Road. Expect delays; alternate routes are advised.

[Graphic description: Traffic cones on street with cars and the words Traffic Alert]

[Aurora Police Dept @AuroraPD]

Were you at this party?

The Aurora Police Department is seeking witnesses to a shooting that occurred on July 4, 2026, at approximately 12:53 a.m. during a house party in the 1400 block of N. Lima Street. During the incident, a fight in the backyard escalated to one adult male sustaining a gunshot wound to the abdomen in the street in front of the house.

This investigation remains active and ongoing, and detectives are asking anyone who witnessed the shooting or has information related to the incident to come forward.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP (7867). Tipsters may remain anonymous and could be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000.

[Aurora Police Dept @AuroraPD]

Turns out hiding under a trampoline isn't much of a plan when we've got eyes in the sky…

Just before 11 p.m. last Friday, our officers received a Flock Safety alert on a stolen Hyundai Tucson traveling through Aurora. With real-time updates from our Real Time Information Center (RTIC), officers safely tracked the vehicle before deploying a Grappler to bring it to a controlled stop near Montview Boulevard and Iola Street.

That's when everyone decided to make a run for it. All in different directions.

But we had the manpower for that.

Two juvenile passengers were quickly taken into custody after short foot pursuits.

The driver had a different idea.

After hopping multiple fences, he crawled underneath a backyard trampoline hoping officers wouldn't find him. Unfortunately for him, our drone was still watching.

Officers immediately established a perimeter while RTIC and our drone team guided officers on the ground.

Working alongside our K9 Unit, the driver was located and taken into custody without incident.

A search of the stolen vehicle also uncovered a firearm and spent shell casings.

The 18-year-old driver was arrested on probable cause of motor vehicle theft, obstructing a peace officer, second degree criminal trespass and driving while revoked. Two juvenile passengers were also arrested on probable cause including motor vehicle trespassing and obstructing a peace officer. Both also had outstanding warrants.

From Flock alerts and the RTIC to the Grappler, drones, K9s and good old-fashioned police work, this arrest is another example of how technology and teamwork help our officers safely take suspects into custody and keep Aurora safe.

[Media Description: Dash cam, drone footage and body cam footage of grappler deployment and foot pursuits with arrests.]

[Aurora Police Dept @AuroraPD]

Last week, we welcomed 32 new officers to the Aurora Police Department.

It's always a special moment when months of hard work and dedication become the first steps of a career in law enforcement. While graduation marks the shift from recruit to officer, it's only the beginning of each of their journeys.

This class reflects a wide range of experiences, with a 27-year age gap between the youngest and oldest graduate. 20% of the class is made up of women, and among them are a former Aurora Police Explorer and two former Aurora Police dispatchers.

No matter their background or the path that brought them here, they now share one mission: serving and protecting the Aurora community. It's an incredible honor and an even greater responsibility.

Congratulations, Class 2026-1B, and welcome to APD!

[Media Description: Photos of officers on stage and posing with family members on graduation day.]

[Aurora Police Dept @AuroraPD]

National Night Out is coming to Aurora on Tuesday, August 4!

National Night Out is an annual community event that brings neighbors and first responders together to strengthen relationships, promote safety, and build stronger, more connected neighborhoods.

Hosting a block party, barbecue, or neighborhood gathering? We'd love to help you make it a success!

To learn more or register your National Night Out event, contact [email protected].

We look forward to seeing you on August 4!

[Media Description: Officers and community members attending 2025 National Night Out events.]

[Aurora Police Dept @AuroraPD]

Who was Chelsea Yasser with in the days before she was killed?

In Episode 3 of APD Presents: The White Whale – The Chelsea Yasser Story, detectives race against the clock in the critical first 48 hours after Chelsea's murder, piecing together her final days and identifying the people who crossed her path before she was killed.

Through newly released investigative interviews and firsthand accounts, investigators begin untangling a web of relationships involving Chelsea's boyfriend, drug associates and the last known person to see her alive. As alibis are confirmed and new leads emerge, detectives narrow their focus to a mysterious date, a dark red van and the unanswered questions that remain nearly a decade later.

Episode 3, Persons of Interest, drops Monday wherever you get your podcasts.

[Media Description: Sound waves fading into podcast poster.]

[Aurora Police Dept @AuroraPD]

Before graduation, the Aurora Police Academy observes a long-standing tradition that marks the culmination of six months of rigorous training. Having earned the privilege to graduate and finally wear the badge, recruits begin the morning by sharing breakfast with the academy staff. During this time, they reflect on the past 26 weeks, exchange humorous stories, and express their appreciation to the instructors and staff who guided and challenged them throughout their journey.

Following breakfast, each graduating class carries its guidon, a flag uniquely designed by that class, on a final "Tower Lap" to the top of the Academy's five-story training tower. There, the class raises its guidon at the highest point on the Academy grounds, where it flies proudly throughout graduation day.

After the graduation ceremony, once the recruits have been sworn in and their badges have been pinned, the class guidon is lowered and permanently displayed in the Academy's main training room alongside the guidons of every graduating class that came before it, serving as a lasting symbol of their achievement and place in the Academy's history.

[Media Description: Police recruits running with their flag to the top of a tower.]

[Aurora Police Dept @AuroraPD]

Aurora Police Study, Enforcement Campaign Produces 86% Crash Reduction at Problem Location

(July 9, 2026) – The Aurora Police Department Special Operations Bureau recently conducted a study and developed an enforcement plan that yielded an 86 percent reduction in crashes at one of the city’s worst locations for vehicle accidents.

The study, spearheaded by the Aurora Police Department Traffic Section, analyzed two years of crash data in the city. The study identified Interstate 225 and South Parker Road – particularly the on and off ramps, the loop and nearby traffic lights and stop signs – as the most prolific location in Aurora for crashes, with 14 reported during a six-week period between April 5 and May 15 of this year.

In response to the high number of crashes, the Traffic Section launched a high-visibility enforcement and public education campaign, which included signage asking motorists to drive safely. On June 3 and June 15, Aurora police’s Motorcycle Enforcement Team conducted traffic safety operations focusing on the three main causes for crashes in the area: traffic control device violations, speeding and careless driving behavior.

Those efforts resulted in crashes dropping from 14 between April 5 and May 15, down to two between May 15 and June 26, an 86 percent drop in six weeks.
“Our traffic officers' focused enforcement and high-visibility presence have played a key role in reducing crashes in the I-225 and South Parker Road corridor,” said Cmdr. Scott Pendleton of the Special Operations Bureau. “These efforts are about more than writing tickets; they're about changing driver behavior, preventing crashes and keeping the community safe. Given the results we've seen and the positive feedback we've received from residents, this work will continue.”

About 48 officer hours were dedicated to the two enforcement operations on June 3 and 15, during which Motorcycle Enforcement Team members issued 126 citations. Roughly four out of every five tickets, or 102 out of the 126, were for speeding or traffic control device violations.

[Aurora Police Dept @AuroraPD]

From the "red zone" of El Salvador to APD, a path far less traveled.

Officer Alex Vasquez serves on Aurora Police's Gun Violence Suppression Team, but his story started long before he ever put on a badge.

Growing up surrounded by gang violence and crime, law enforcement wasn't a career he ever imagined for himself. Then one conversation with former Golden Police Chief Joe Harvey changed everything, setting him on a path of service and purpose.

His journey is unique, but it's one of many within our department.

Behind every badge is a person. A story. A reason they chose to serve.

For Officer Vasquez, a childhood shaped by violence became a career dedicated to helping prevent it. His story is a reminder that this profession doesn't just change communities. Sometimes, it changes the lives of the people who answer the call.

Thank you to former Chief Joe Harvey for helping set Officer Vasquez on the path that led him here.

[Media description: Video of Aurora police officer talking about his history and his role at the department.]

[Aurora Police Dept @AuroraPD]

Technology + teamwork = quick results

Just a few weeks ago, officers arrested a burglary suspect in less than an hour thanks to a vigilant neighbor, the Real Time Information Center (RTIC) and APD's Drones as First Responders program.

The incident began when a neighbor reported seeing a man enter a home's backyard and leave with a bicycle. Using live camera technology, RTIC quickly located a suspect matching the description riding a bicycle that matched the one reported stolen. Drone technology and real-time updates allowed officers to continuously track the suspect's movements, directing officers to his location within minutes.

When officers contacted the suspect, he abandoned the bicycle and tried to run.

But we were faster.

Officers quickly took him into custody, recovered the stolen bike and other property taken from the residence, and arrested him on probable cause of theft, trespassing and obstructing.

This case is another example of how APD's technology, combined with community members who report suspicious activity, helps officers locate suspects quickly, recover stolen property and keep our community safe.

[Media Description: Drone footage of suspect on bicycle and body camera footage of officers arresting the suspect.]

[Aurora Police Dept @AuroraPD]

UPDATE: Czeslawa Muniz has been found safe in Denver. Thank you to all who kept an eye out. We appreciate it.