DENVER (KDVR) — The Aurora Police Department released new information after a 17-year-old was shot and killed during a confrontation with Aurora police.
In a press conference, the Aurora Police Department Chief Todd Chamberlain spoke about the incident. Initial dispatch calls and portions of the officers’ bodycam footage were also shown during the press conference.
The Arapahoe County Coroner’s Office had identified the 17-year-old as Blaze Aleczander Balle-Mason.
Chamberlain said dispatch had received the initial call from the teen around 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 18.
Chamberlain said the teen called 911 and played a portion of the call with dispatch at the press conference. The caller told dispatch that he wanted officers to show up to “shoot them” and had a pistol in his pocket.
Chamberlain said that dispatchers had reported the call as a threat involving a weapon on the 200 block of South Havana Street.
“This was not a call based upon someone who was in mental crisis. This was a call based on an individual who said that he was going to commit mass shooting and mass violence,” said Chamberlain in the press conference.
Police arrived at the gas station where the teen was on the side of an island and his hands were concealed. They observed the teen who came away from the island and began to “chase after the officers,” according to Chamberlain.
Aurora officers had then shot a “less lethal” foam projectile, which Chamberlain said did make contact with the teen; however, it did not make an impact and the teen allegedly “went into a full run chasing the officers,” who retreated.
Officers said to put “his hands up” as the teen went around the corner of the island and approached one officer, while he allegedly kept one of his hands inside his jacket. At that time, an officer shot the teen, said Chamberlain.
The teen was rushed to the hospital but later pronounced dead.
Chamberlain noted that from the time officers first made contact with the teen, and the teen allegedly charged towards officers, was 15 seconds.
There is no word on how many rounds were fired at the teen; however, Chamberlain said the 18th Judicial Critical Incident Response Team is investigating the shooting, while Aurora police are conducting an administrative review of the incident.
Anthony Sutton is a business strategist and writer with a passion for management, leadership, and entrepreneurship. With years of experience in the corporate world, he shares insights on business growth, strategy, and innovation through management-opleiding.org.
