Reward Increased To Find Suspect Who Shot Aurora Officer
AURORA, Colo. (CBS4) - Police have increased the reward for information on a suspect who shot an Aurora police officer Friday night.
The police officer was shot near 17th Avenue and Fulton Street just after 9 p.m. during a traffic stop. According to Frank Fania with Aurora police, the officer was transported to University of Colorado Hospital and rushed into surgery.
Saturday morning police reported that the officer was in serious but stable condition after surgery and expected to survive.
An additional $5,000 on top of the $2,000 offered by Crime Stoppers has been offered for information leading to the identification and arrest of a suspect.
Investigators have very little information on the suspect. Officers from at least three jurisdictions scoured nearby neighborhoods looking for the suspect and there was still a police presence in the area Saturday evening.
Fania said he didn't know where the officer was wounded and didn't release a name.
"As the investigation continued, it was learned that the car the suspect was driving at the time of the shooting had just been stolen a few blocks away," Fania said. "At the time of the theft it was left running and unlocked while unattended (commonly referred to as a puffer)."
Fania said two officers made a traffic stop at 9:05 p.m. Almost immediately the suspect fired from within the stopped car, hitting one officer.
"As the officers were walking up to the suspect's car to make contact with the driver, the suspect fired several shots out of the driver's side window, striking one of the officers," Fania said.
The officer who was not wounded returned fire, but Fania said he didn't know if the suspect was hit.
The suspect fled the scene and abandoned the car two blocks later at 19th Avenue and Fulton, four blocks west of Havana Street.
Law enforcement from Aurora, Denver and Jefferson County fanned into the surrounding streets but were unable to locate the suspect.
"We have no clue where this individual is," Fania said. "We don't know what direction he went in."
A helicopter, K-9 units and bloodhounds assisted in the search Friday night into Saturday morning. Dozens of police vehicles stretched along 17th Avenue.
Gerardo Anaya was eating dinner with his family when the shots rang out outside his home.
"I came outside and I saw a police officer over another officer, helping him so that he wouldn't bleed out," Anaya said through a translator.
With the shooter on the loose police worry for the community's safety.
"For an individual that just shot at an officer, it's a huge threat," Fania said. "We don't know if he still has a gun, we're assuming he does."
Additional Information From Aurora Police
The Aurora Police Department has increased the reward for information related to this shooting. An additional $5,000.00 is being offered for information leading to the identification and arrest of the suspect(s) involved in this incident.
Police are still trying to locate witnesses. We are asking anyone who may have witnessed this incident or has any information on this case to please call detective Warren Miller at (303)739-6117 You can also provide information on this case and remain anonymous by calling CRIME STOPPERS at 720-913-STOP (7867) or text a tip to 274637 (CRIMES) and then use the title DMCS and enter the message. By doing so, you may be eligible to earn a reward of up to two thousand dollars ($2,000).
