AURORA | An Arapahoe County jury this week convicted a 20-year-old man of murdering an Aurora teenager two years ago because he was jealous the teen was dating his ex-girlfriend.
Jurors deliberated for just three hours Sept. 1 before determining Joseph Dean McCaughin was guilty of first-degree murder in the shooting death of 16-year-old Ryan Robertson at Wagon Trail Park in Aurora the evening of May 6, 2019, according to the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.
Robertson and a 15-year-old friend had planned to meet McCaughin, who was 18 at the time of the shooting, at the Aurora park to confront him about how he had reportedly assaulted his 17-year-old ex-girlfriend, according to an arrest affidavit. The same girl had since become romantically involved with Robertson, according to the arrest document.
Robertson, a Grandview High School student, and McCaughin briefly exchanged words before police said McCaughin drew a semi-automatic handgun from a backpack and fired half a dozen shots toward Robertson in rapid succession. Witness later told investigators that “(McCaughin) acted out of anger, and aimed for Robertson’s head,” according to the affidavit.
Robertson was ultimately shot three times: once in the head, once in the lower back, and once in the right arm. He died on the way to the hospital.
The gunfire was aimed in the direction of nearby Independence Elementary School, where multiple children and adults were outside, according to prosecutors.
“Not only did this defendant kill another person, but he put little kids in harm’s way as
he was shooting,” District Attorney John Kellner said in a statement.
McCaughin’s ex-girlfriend — the same teen who had become involved with Robertson in the weeks before his death — told police she had dated McCaughin for about three years, but they broke up about a year before the shooting. She said “McCaughin was physically abusive during their entire relationship, and that he continued to stalk and physically assault her after they broke up.” Police determined McCaughin had broken into the girl’s Aurora home while she was there just several hours before the fatal shooting. Before McCaughin left the teen’s home, he whispered to her that “if she f***ed with anyone, he would kill her and the other guy,” according to the affidavit.
McCaughin was arrested in Georgia about a week after the shooting.
“It’s tragic to see yet another young man’s life cut short by the petty jealousy of a man with a gun.” Kellner said.
McCaugin is scheduled to be sentenced in the case Nov. 9. A first-degree murder conviction carries a statutorily required sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.