DENVER – Aurora’s police chief said Tuesday that two of the six teenagers shot at a park near Aurora Central High School on Monday will have a long recovery ahead of them as the department released photos of the suspects' vehicles.
Chief Vanessa Wilson said she spoke with the families of those two victims Tuesday morning.
“It looks as though two of these victims will have a long haul ahead of them,” Wilson said. “Their injuries were significant, but thankfully they are with us and they are going to pull through.”
She added that police were still working “a couple of different leads" and hinted that the photos of the suspects' vehicles would be released Tuesday afternoon.
The police department did release photos of two vehicles just before 5 p.m. Tuesday suspected of being involved in the shooting — a black Chevrolet Tahoe with chrome door handles and a roof rack and a black Chrysler 300 with chrome wheels.
UPDATE - Suspect vehicles identified. Please review the below pictures & notify local police if you have info about the vehicle, driver or owner.
— Aurora Police Dept 🦃 (@AuroraPD) November 16, 2021
Tipsters can remain anonymous by using @CrimeStoppersCO.
Aurora Reward Fund has offered an addt'l $5k reward for a total of $7k! https://t.co/TQvKypuquw pic.twitter.com/DOInvfE9QN
No one had been arrested in connection with the shooting as of when Wilson spoke at a news conference about a consent decree between the city and attorney general to reform the police department, nor as of 5 p.m. when the department released the photos of the suspect vehicles. Wilson said the parents of the two victims had requested privacy.
On Wednesday afternoon, Aurora police said the black Tahoe had been found in a residential neighborhood near South Kalispell Way and East Alameda Parkway and that detectives were following up on leads tied to the people inside. But the department said the Chrysler 300 is still outstanding.
UPDATE - Detectives have located the black Tahoe & are following up on leads associated w/ the occupants.
— Aurora Police Dept 🦃 (@AuroraPD) November 18, 2021
The black Chrysler 300 is still outstanding. If you have any information on the driver, owner, or suspects involved, please contact @CrimeStoppersCO. https://t.co/ncTA4bj6we pic.twitter.com/1jwyrLLfOR
The shooting happened after noon Monday at Nome Park just north of Aurora Central High School, which all six victims who were shot attend.
“We are shaken up,”Aurora Central High junior Eduardo Arroyo-Ramirez said. “This is where everyone hangs out during lunch... Just hang out, talk to our friends, talk about school.”
Five of the six victims were taken by ambulances to area hospitals and a sixth victim self-transported himself to the hospital. Children’s Hospital said Monday the three teenagers treated there were reunited with their families.
The victims were identified by the Aurora Police Department as a 14-year-old male; a 15-year-old female; a 16-year-old male; a 16-year-old female; a 17-year-old male and an 18-year-old male.
APD said two of the victims were treated with tourniquets by school resource officers who responded to the shooting. Wilson said Monday that investigators believe there might have been suspects in vehicles and on foot and asked for the community’s help in providing possible video from the nearby neighborhood of the suspects.
She said Tuesday that the community has been responsive so far but continue to urge anyone who might not have spoken with police and who had information to come forward and speak to APD investigators or Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867.
In addition to the $2,000 Crime Stoppers reward, Aurora police said the Aurora Reward Fund was offering an additional $5,000 reward.
