AURORA, Colo. — A security guard shot and killed a 36-year-old man outside a convenience store in Aurora Saturday night.
At about 9 p.m., police responded to a report of a shooting at the 7-Eleven near East Colfax Avenue and Peoria Street. When officers arrived they found Vernon Dorsey Jr. with a gunshot wound, according to Aurora Police. The responding officers performed life-saving measures until medical responders arrived, police said.
Dorsey was taken to a local hospital where he later died.
During the investigation, officers learned that Dorsey had pulled a gun on the security guard outside the convenience store and pointed it at the security guard's head, police said. The security guard and Dorsey struggled for the gun and the security guard was able to use his own gun and shoot Dorsey, according to police.
Julie Ellis told 9NEWS her roommate works at the gas station and witnessed the shooting. She said he told her a man was waving a gun around in the parking lot threatening to shoot people when a security guard got involved.
“The security guard had no other choice but to fire back because the guy in the parking lot was waving a gun and threatening to shoot in the parking lot,” said Ellis. “The security guard did his job."
The security guard was taken to police headquarters and was questioned, according to police. Police said they believe the security guard was acting in self-defense.
The security guards at the 7-Eleven are employed by a private company, Iron Spear Protection Group LLC. In a statement from the president of the company, he said they are backing the guard involved with "absolute certainty" after reviewing the incident.
The company's president stated that the security guard is in good condition and with his family. The company is fully supporting the Aurora Police Department and will consider making a public statement once all facts are confirmed, he said.