• Family members of Kilyn Lewis at a balloon release May 23, 2025 to mark the one-year anniversary of the police-involved shooting that took his life. PHOTO BY CASSANDRA BALLARD, Sentinel Colorado
  • Family members of Kilyn Lewis at a balloon release May 23, 2025 to mark the one-year anniversary of the police-involved shooting that took his life. PHOTO BY CASSANDRA BALLARD, Sentinel Colorado
  • Family members of Kilyn Lewis at a balloon release May 23, 2025 to mark the one-year anniversary of the police-involved shooting that took his life. PHOTO BY CASSANDRA BALLARD, Sentinel Colorado

AURORA | On the anniversary of the death of Kilyn Lewis, his family and supporters went to the condo parking lot where he was fatally shot by police and released balloons at the time of his shooting, 11:37 a.m.

“We’re marking the death anniversary for my son, Kylin. It’s a celebration as well for us to be out here together as a community, to be out here to celebrate life with him,” LaRonda Jones, Kylin’s mother, said. “It is also a heartfelt moment because we are here at the place where he actually lost his life, unjustifiably.”

Jones said she made balloons with a farewell message and her son’s picture, so everyone could remember her son. 

“Kilyn forever missed and always cherished restful sleep until we meet again, Big K Lo,” The balloons read. 

Kilyn was fatally by Aurora SWAT Officer, Michael Dieck, as his SWAT unit tried to arrest the 37-year-old Denver man in an Aurora condo parking lot. Lewis was a suspect in a Denver shooting in May 2024. 

“The SWAT Team was called to assist when the suspect was located driving a red sedan in Aurora,” police spokesperson Matthew Longshore said in previous reporting. “The suspect arrived at the apartment complex just before noon.”

Aurora SWAT officers approached Lewis as he exited his car and attempted to arrest him, but he went to reach for his phone from his back pocket and was shot.

Dieck was cleared of criminal wrongdoing in the shooting by the former Arapahoe County district attorney. He was cleared of violating police department policy by an internal investigation board and police chief.

“The system is very corrupt,” Jones said. “The system doesn’t stand for the oath that they took.”

Jones said that when she comes to the place of her son’s death, she remembers that the police only gave the media and the public what they wanted them to see to justify his death, and she said that his death was not justified. 

“If he were here, I would say ‘Unitedly we stand, dividedly we fall,’” she said. 

Lewis’ family has scheduled another balloon release for tonight for family and others who want to share in the celebration of Kylin’s life. The event is scheduled for 6 p.m. at the location of the shooting, 384 S. Ironton St.

MiDian Shofner said anyone who wants to show support is invited.