Suspect in Aurora triple-shooting had prior random shooting case dismissed
DENVER (KDVR) — Police in Aurora said two women and a man were shot and wounded on Thursday night.
According to the Aurora Police Department, the shooting began at 9:20 p.m. in the 4400 block of South Eagle Circle in the Pheasant Run neighborhood. Police said a 50-year-old woman was shot while in her car and taken to the local hospital with life-threatening injuries.
The suspect then reportedly drove to the 4600 block of South Crystal Way, less than half a mile from the first shooting scene.
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Aurora police said the suspect allegedly shot two people at the second location, a 64-year-old woman and a 36-year-old man. The two were walking in the area when they were shot. Police said the man and woman had serious injuries and were taken to a hospital.
The suspect then fled the scene again.
According to Aurora police, officers spotted a heavily damaged car in the 14200 block of East Tufts Place and saw a man who matched the description of the shooting suspect inside an apartment in the area.
Four people inside the apartment were evacuated and Aurora police said they took the suspect, a 35-year-old white man, into custody. The suspect was also taken to a local hospital as a precaution, per Aurora police.
Police identified the suspect as 34-year-old Austin Benson. He has been booked on three counts of attempted first-degree murder.
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During the investigation, Aurora police said they seized three firearms.
Smoky Hill Road was closed in both directions between Quincy and Evanston Street for the investigation.
Police said the motive in the shooting was not immediately known. The department’s Major Crimes Unit was investigating.
Trent Ellis lives off of East Tufts Place and saw the drama unfolding.
“I was just looking outside my peephole here. We saw everything. I was able to see the physical altercation very clearly, I saw the weapon,” Ellis told FOX31’s Vicente Arenas.
FOX31 spoke to several neighbors who heard the gunshots in the two different neighborhoods, which are close to each other.
“We heard a pop at like 9:30 last night and assumed it was fireworks,” said Tish Mills, a neighbor.
There are several apartment complexes in the area where the two pedestrians were shot. The FOX31 crew on this story saw a steady stream of foot traffic throughout the day.
Diana Absalom and her son pass through the area often.
“It’s scary because I usually walk this area,” Diana said.
“It makes me horrified because you might not know what might happen later on,” Jayden said.
Turns out Benson had been arrested in Douglas County in 2018 for attempted murder in another random shooting case, but the charges were dismissed.
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