Aurora officer shoots, injures boy, 16, police say charged them after car break-in attempt

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AURORA | An Aurora police officer shot and injured a 16-year-old boy early Monday, saying the teen was seen trying to break into cars and charged at police when they confronted him.

The boy is hospitalized with a “non-life-threatening” leg wound, police said.

Two officers were patrolling Sunnyside Condominiums, 1035 S. Elkhart Way at about 3:15 a.m. when the shooting occurred.

The two officers said they saw someone trying to break into cars in the parking lot of the complex and confronted the person, Aurora police spokesperson Joe Moylan said in a statement. Police said the suspect is a 16-year-old Hispanic boy.

The boy ran away “behind some trees and vehicles,” Aurora police Division Chief Mark Hildenbrand said during a press conference Monday morning. “He immediately came out from behind the cars and approached officers at a very fast pace.”

Hidlebrand said the officers repeatedly told the boy to stop, but he continued moving toward the officers.

“The officers were actually retreating backwards to create space,” he said.

At one point, one of the officers fired “two to three” shots at the boy, striking him in the leg.

The boy then threw down a knife and complied with officers, Hildebrand said.

He was then rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.

“We don’t know what motivated this individual to not comply with orders and charge at officers,” Hildebrand said.

Hildebrand said police have had previous contact with the boy but did not provide details of what that was. Police said they have been in contact with the boy’s family since the shooting. 

Moylan said that at some point during the confrontation, one of the officers told dispatchers they saw “something shiny” in the waistband of the boy’s pants. Dispatchers apparently broadcast that information as they pursued the boy.

Hildebrandt said police frequently patrol the complex and the nearby area because of frequent car break-ins.

The shooting will now be subject to an investigation by a Critical Incident Response Team, which includes an outside police agency and investigators from the 18th Judicial District. In addition, the shooting will be investigated by Aurora police detectives, the department’s Internal Review Board and a Use of Force police unit.

The officer who shot the boy is a sergeant who has been on the force for 20 years, Hildebrand said.

He was not identified and has been placed on paid administrative leave, which is Aurora police policy.