AURORA, Colo. — Aurora Police Chief Art Acevedo gave an update Monday on the fatal shooting of a 15-year-old at Southlands Mall and said that while crime in the city and nationwide are "the worst that I've seen," the rate in Aurora is trending downward.
The 15-year-old, Raphael Velin, was shot Sept. 30 in the parking lot of the shopping center near 6100 Main Street. He was taken to the hospital, where he died.
Acevedo said investigators think there were five suspects and multiple shooters, all juveniles and young adults. Police have gotten a warrant for one suspect on a murder charge and are working to arrest them.
Investigators believe the shooting happened during a preplanned meeting between the people involved. Acevedo also said that police have increased patrols at the mall despite saying there was no known threat to shoppers.
On crime trends in the city, Acevedo said that violent crime isn't at pre-pandemic levels but that the rates are dropping.
"Violent crime in our city, in our region, in our state, in this country continues to be way too high," he said. "We know that. We have a proliferation of firearms, easy access to firearms, short fuses, social media and a problem with youth violence in our country. ... To me, it's the worst that I've seen."
He said young people are committing assaults and murders over the "slightest offense."
Since the end of last year, violent crimes in Aurora have been trending downward. He said as of mid-September, there is one fewer homicide than at the same time last year and that Aurora Police made arrests in 85% of homicides in 2022 – better than the national average. He said the city is seeing 15% fewer violent crimes this year, except for a small increase in sexual assaults.
He cited several police department units that are working to fight crime by preventing gun violence, building trust with school-age children and investigating non-fatal shootings and fentanyl-related crime.
The news conference came after two other shootings this past weekend.
In one shooting on Sunday in the 9600 block of East Colfax Avenue, the victim was walking down the street when a car pulled up and fired shots. The victim was expected to recover and didn't appear to know the suspect, police said.
Earlier Sunday, two people were shot in an apparent road road incident near East Mississippi Avenue and Chambers Road. Neither victim had injuries that were life-threatening, police said.
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