AURORA, CO - Authorities with the Aurora Police Department (APD) have released bodycam footage of a fatal officer-involved shooting that occurred in the early morning hours of March 19th. The shooting incident followed a police pursuit that began in Geneva.
According to FOX32, the suspect, 19-year-old Christopher Lepe, was wanted for aggravated battery on a Geneva police officer. The incident began around 1:30 a.m. when a Geneva officer approached a vehicle in a parking lot on South Randall Road. Police said that the driver, identified as Lepe, was suspected of being intoxicated and allegedly refused to exit the car when asked.
He drove off and dragged the officer with his vehicle. Aurora police later spotted the vehicle and attempted a traffic stop. Lepe did not stop and a pursuit ensued. The chase ended near South Broadway and Hazel after police deployed stop sticks. Lepe reportedly displayed a weapon, prompting two officers to fire at him.
WGNTV reported that in the video, officers can be heard yelling, "hands up," as Lepe opens the door to his vehicle with what appears to be a long gun in his hands. A still image shows what police describe as Lepe seemingly pointing the weapon at an officer. In the dashcam footage, police can be heard yelling "get on the ground" before the officers fire shots.
APD Chief Keith Cross said that the officers provided aid before paramedics arrived and transported him to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Police said a weapon was later recovered at the scene. The Kane County Coroner's Office confirmed Lepe's death and conducted an autopsy. The official cause and manner if death are still pending as are the toxicology samples that were collected for further analysis.
On Monday, March 24th, Aurora police released bodycam footage, along with dispatch audio and other recordings related to the incident. In a statement, Cross said that the decision to release the footage was made in the interest of transparency. He said, "We want to be upfront. This footage contains graphic content and may be difficult to watch."
He added, "However, transparency is a cornerstone of our commitment to this community and we believe it's important to share this information." Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin acknowledged the release of the footage and its impact on the community. He said, "My heart is with everyone affected by this incident — those involved, their families, and our entire Aurora community. I want to assure you that transparency and accountability remain top priorities for our city."
The two officers who fired their duty weapons as well as a third officer present at the time of the shooting, have all been placed on administrative leave. The Kane County State's Attorney's Office and the Kane County Major Crime Task Force continue to investigate the shooting. Officials said they will not be providing further details until the independent investigation is complete.
Following the release of the footage, Lepe's family issued a statement that read, in part, "...We are demanding the full, unedited release of all videos, from every police officer and squad car involved in this tragic event, including both Aurora and Geneva officers. We insist that these videos be made available with complete, unaltered audio and visuals, so the full scope of this tragedy can be understood."
As noted by Chief Cross, the footage was not altered other than to protect the privacy of those involved, with some audio being redacted and faces being blurred.
According to FOX32, the suspect, 19-year-old Christopher Lepe, was wanted for aggravated battery on a Geneva police officer. The incident began around 1:30 a.m. when a Geneva officer approached a vehicle in a parking lot on South Randall Road. Police said that the driver, identified as Lepe, was suspected of being intoxicated and allegedly refused to exit the car when asked.
He drove off and dragged the officer with his vehicle. Aurora police later spotted the vehicle and attempted a traffic stop. Lepe did not stop and a pursuit ensued. The chase ended near South Broadway and Hazel after police deployed stop sticks. Lepe reportedly displayed a weapon, prompting two officers to fire at him.
WGNTV reported that in the video, officers can be heard yelling, "hands up," as Lepe opens the door to his vehicle with what appears to be a long gun in his hands. A still image shows what police describe as Lepe seemingly pointing the weapon at an officer. In the dashcam footage, police can be heard yelling "get on the ground" before the officers fire shots.
APD Chief Keith Cross said that the officers provided aid before paramedics arrived and transported him to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Police said a weapon was later recovered at the scene. The Kane County Coroner's Office confirmed Lepe's death and conducted an autopsy. The official cause and manner if death are still pending as are the toxicology samples that were collected for further analysis.
On Monday, March 24th, Aurora police released bodycam footage, along with dispatch audio and other recordings related to the incident. In a statement, Cross said that the decision to release the footage was made in the interest of transparency. He said, "We want to be upfront. This footage contains graphic content and may be difficult to watch."
He added, "However, transparency is a cornerstone of our commitment to this community and we believe it's important to share this information." Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin acknowledged the release of the footage and its impact on the community. He said, "My heart is with everyone affected by this incident — those involved, their families, and our entire Aurora community. I want to assure you that transparency and accountability remain top priorities for our city."
The two officers who fired their duty weapons as well as a third officer present at the time of the shooting, have all been placed on administrative leave. The Kane County State's Attorney's Office and the Kane County Major Crime Task Force continue to investigate the shooting. Officials said they will not be providing further details until the independent investigation is complete.
Following the release of the footage, Lepe's family issued a statement that read, in part, "...We are demanding the full, unedited release of all videos, from every police officer and squad car involved in this tragic event, including both Aurora and Geneva officers. We insist that these videos be made available with complete, unaltered audio and visuals, so the full scope of this tragedy can be understood."
As noted by Chief Cross, the footage was not altered other than to protect the privacy of those involved, with some audio being redacted and faces being blurred.
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Comments
3 days ago | Comment by: Robert
I back the blue 100% and never more so than in an instance like this where officers lives were at risk. I will never understand the mindset of people who feel they do not have to comply with legal orders by the police department. Comply and you will suffer. No harm..... Simple!
3 days ago | Comment by: Robert
I back the blue 100% and never more so than in an instance like this where officers lives were at risk. I will never understand the mindset of people who feel they do not have to comply with legal orders by the police department. Comply and you will suffer. No harm..... Simple!
3 days ago | Comment by: Bruce
Looks like Lepe’s relatives think they hit the gravy train!
3 days ago | Comment by: James
Good job!