AURORA, Colo. — Two teens – a 15-year-old and a 14-year-old boy – were arrested after a shooting in Aurora that left two boys injured, but their exact involvement in the shooting remains under investigation.
An Aurora Police spokesman said the teens were arrested Wednesday night after the shooting about 4 p.m. near a playground outside an apartment complex at 12437 E. Ford Ave. That is in an area northeast of South Peoria Street and East Mississippi Avenue.
"Yeah, that was scary," said Steven Barranco, who lives nearby.
It was a tense afternoon for Barranco and his family. He was inside when he heard shots ring out just outside their home.
"Yeah, I was in the living room when one bullet actually hit the back door of my house," Barranco said. "And I got some glass hit on me but besides that ..."
He ran to check on his niece, making sure she was OK before heading outside.
Police reported two boys, a 12-year-old and a 14-year-old, were shot. Both boys were expected to survive their injuries.
"The ambulance was taking care of the kids that got shot, and the police started making us back up, and they started going around the houses, checking if they could find the people. And then, they found them in a house. They were there for maybe 40 minutes at a stalemate," Barranco said.
Police stood outside with rifles, shouting at those inside an apartment to come out.
After a tense 30 minutes, three people came out.
"But thankfully, they came out calmly. They didn't try to fight back or anything," Barranco said.
Police quickly handcuffed all three, leading them away. All three appeared to be juveniles.
"Yeah, they were, they all look under 18, 17. The people who shot, who got shot. They're all young," Barranco said.
Aurora Police said at least four young people appeared to be involved. According to an Aurora Police spokesman, a 14-year-old boy was arrested on three outstanding warrants that were unrelated to the shooting. Those were warrants were for second-degree assault, third-degree assault, and criminal mischief.
A 15-year-old boy was arrested on weapons charges. He faces the following charges:
- Possession of a dangerous/illegal weapon
- Possession of a weapon by a juvenile
- Obstructing a peace officer
The spokesman said the 15-year-old boy had an illegally modified handgun that was equipped with an auto switch that converts a semi-automatic handgun into a fully automatic handgun. It's not clear whether that weapon, which was found with the teen, was the one used in the shooting, the spokesman said.
Police haven't said what led up to the shooting, only that they believe the two victims knew the shooters. The spokesman said they're still investigating the exact role the teens played in the shooting and said they don't believe there are any outstanding suspects. So far only two teens have been arrested.
Still, Barranco said a shooting so close to his home worries him.
"It was actually scary because my niece and like a bunch of kids, my little cousin plays out here. Like, I see them play soccer, basketball, all type of games. Just knowing that people could just shoot here now, it’s unsettling," Barranco said. "But, I don't know. I don't know if I could ever walk here knowing I could be safe now."
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