AURORA, Colo. (KDVR) — Family and friends gathered Saturday at New Nation Church in Aurora to remember a 37-year-old man who was shot and killed by Aurora police in August.
Around two hundred people filled the church in a standing-room-only service, honoring Rajon Belt-Stubblefield with memories of his laughter, joy and deep love for his family.
“I can’t call nobody at 6 in the morning no more. I can’t call him,” said Ronnette Mathews, mother to three of Belt-Stubblefield’s children. “When the kids are acting up, and I can’t get them straight, I can’t do that no more. And I’m angry. That part of me is angry.”
Levette Sanderson, grandmother to Belt-Stubblefield’s three children, echoed those emotions.
“Good people are hard to find, difficult to leave and impossible to forget,” said Sanderson. “We will never forget Rajon.”
While mourners shared heartfelt memories, many also called for accountability, chanting “justice for Rajon” alongside civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who is representing the family.
“They’re going to try to say what they did to Rajon was legal,” said Crump. “But we must all stand up in unison and say, that doesn’t make it right. That doesn’t make it right.”
The Aurora Police Department previously released body camera footage of the Aug. 30 incident.
Officers said they attempted to pull over a driver, but he allegedly did not stop and crashed into two vehicles near 6th Avenue and Billings Street.
In a previous news conference, Aurora Police Chief Todd Chamberlain said the driver exited the vehicle, physically engaged with an officer and ignored commands.
The police chief said the driver then tossed a gun in a nearby area and became increasingly aggressive. The officer was allegedly backed into the street during the confrontation, where the officer then fired multiple shots at the driver, who was ultimately pronounced dead at the scene.
The family disputes the use of deadly force, arguing that less-lethal options should have been considered.
The shooting is currently under investigation by the 18th Judicial District Critical Incident Response Team.
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.
