AURORA | Police say a 17-year-old Denver boy, linked to the shooting death of a 16-year-old Aurora boy, died Dec. 21 from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The Sentinel inaccurately reported last week that the Aurora boy died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He did not, police said this week, saying that his death was a homicide.
Aurora police were called to a house in the 3400 block of South Jebel Court at about 12:15 a.m. Dec. 21 after reports of a teenage boy lying in the driveway of a home suffering a gunshot wound.
The boy was declared dead at the scene, police said.
On Dec. 26, police announced that they were notified that a 17-year-old boy in Denver died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Aurora police on Jan. 7 said that the older boy was “person of interest” in the homicide of the younger Aurora boy. The Denver boy died by suicide, as reported to Aurora by Denver police.
Neither boy were identified because of their ages, police said.
If you or someone you know is contemplating suicide, call or text 988 or click here: www.988colorado.com
This story is completely wrong. The suspect that killed a teen early Sunday morning was found dead from a self inflicted gunshot wound on Thursday. Please check facts and reporting on all other news stories and correct your story.
I appreciate that this was corrected. However, this situation is a reminder of how important it is to get the facts right before publication.
When reporting on violent and tragic events, accuracy is not optional. Initial reporting matters. Families and communities are impacted immediately by what is published, and misinformation can cause real and lasting harm.
Journalists carry a serious responsibility to the community. Careful verification should always come before speed. Lives, legacies, and grieving families deserve that level of care.