ATF offers $5,000 for suspect info on shots fired near Aurora police officers

AURORA | After a Sept. 6 incident in which shots were fired near two Aurora police officers, the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is boosting the reward offered for information leading to an arrest and conviction.

Aurora police on Thursday afternoon said the ATF is offering up to $5,000 for information leading to the person or persons responsible for the shots fired. The officers said they heard multiple shots fired in their direction while responding to a call about 9:43 p.m. Sept. 6 in the 1700 block between North Elmira and North Florence streets.

The incident came just a few hours after Aurora police dispatch received a call from a disconnected cell phone threatening Aurora officers.

“It’s time that you guys know we are no longer playing around with the police departments. Aurora and Denver we are about to start striking fear shooting down all cops that we see by their selves (sic). This will go for the Sheriff’s Department,” said a man who made the threatening call about 5:49 p.m. Sept. 6. “You guys are evicting innocent people. Let us catch you by ya’ll [phonetic] self and it’s shots fired.”

Aurora police later said that the threatening call and the shots fired appeared to be unrelated.

The increased reward is available because of a partnership between the Aurora Police Department and the ATF through the Crime Gun Intelligence Center initiative (CGIC). Tips can be emailed to the ATF at atftips@atf.gov.

Aurora police also are requesting the public’s assistance in finding the suspect or suspects in the shooting. Anyone with information may call Detective Schnicke at 303-739-6931, or they can call Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867; tipsters may remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000.