AURORA – The man shot by an Aurora Police officer late Sunday night had pointed a gun at officers prior to being shot, the Aurora Police Department said in a news conference Tuesday.
Natnael Gebretsadik, 19, was shot in the pelvic region while attempting to flee from a vehicle pulled over for a defective tail light. He remains hospitalized with life-threatening injuries.
Two officers in an unmarked patrol car pulled the vehicle over at about 11:04 p.m. near South Blackhawk Street and East Evans Avenue. While officers were making contact with other occupants inside the vehicle, Gebretsadik began to flee the area on foot.
Police say he was chased for about 100 yards by an officer before tripping and falling to the ground.
When he got back on his feet, police say he pointed a gun at the officer chasing him. The officer gave multiple commands for him to drop the gun but Gebretsadik refused. The officer then fired one shot, striking Gebretsadik.
Police say Gebretsadik was not in legal possession of a firearm. He has an extensive criminal history with 26 prior arrests—many of them violent in nature.
The officer who shot Gebretsadik remains on administrative leave, per protocol. He’s a three-year veteran of the Aurora Police Department.
