72-year-old man charged with first-degree murder after fatal shooting in Aurora

AURORA, Colorado – A man is charged with first-degree murder in connection with the deadly shooting over the weekend in northwest Aurora.

Police were called to the southwest corner of E. Colfax Ave. and N. Havana St. around 2 p.m. Saturday for a shooting. Officers found a man suffering from gunshot wounds at the scene.

The victim was taken to hospital but died shortly afterwards, according to a press release.

The suspect – identified as 72-year-old Bennie Green Jr. – fled the scene but was arrested sometime over the weekend, a police spokesman said.

“We believe this was a targeted incident and that the suspect and victim know each other. How the incident unfolded is currently unknown,” the spokesman added.

No further information about the shooting was initially released.

Aurora police will conduct “proactive policing” in the area

There will be an increased Aurora Police presence in the area where the shooting occurred this weekend because violent crime, sex work, trespassing and outdoor drug use are rampant there and are often described as “out of control” by community leaders, business owners and city leaders.

In July, Denver7 reported that Aurora police would be conducting “proactive policing” at the intersection in the coming weeks. This “proactive policing” will include an increased police presence in the area and will use data and intelligence to target those they believe are responsible for much of the crime, according to a police department spokesperson.

A month earlier, Aurora crime statistics showed that at least nine serious assaults, as well as six car thefts and three robberies, had been reported in the area.

Aurora PD Patrol Division Chief Kevin Barnes, who is leading the operation, said the department will reevaluate the strategy every 30 days. He said the plan will involve several divisions of the APD as well as the 17th and 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Offices.

Aurora Police Focus on Improving Safety in Colfax and Havana