Aurora Police Officer Shoots Suspect After Struggle at an Offsite Airport Parking Lot

 

Aurora, Colorado — May 12, 2025: A routine trespassing call in an airport parking lot escalated into a fatal encounter between an Aurora police officer and a 32-year-old man who reportedly became aggressive and combative. The incident is now under investigation as an officer-involved shooting.

At approximately 3:00 p.m., the Aurora Police Department received a 911 call from staff at an offsite airport parking facility located in the 19900 block of East 56th Avenue. The caller reported a man on the premises behaving suspiciously. The individual was allegedly checking car door handles and refused to leave when asked by employees. Staff members expressed growing concern for their safety as the man’s behavior appeared to escalate.

About two hours later, around 5:15 p.m., a uniformed Aurora patrol officer arrived on scene to investigate the situation. Upon arrival, the officer was briefed by parking lot employees, who informed him that the suspect was still on the property and had become increasingly confrontational with staff. The officer quickly located the man, later identified as Rashad Terrelle Johnson, age 32, and attempted to initiate a conversation.

However, within approximately one minute of the initial contact, the situation deteriorated rapidly. According to police, Johnson charged at the officer, prompting a physical altercation between the two. Witnesses at the scene quickly called 911 again, this time reporting that an officer was involved in a fight and appeared to be in need of assistance.

During the struggle, the officer attempted to use less-lethal tools in an effort to subdue Johnson. Specific details regarding the less-lethal devices used were not disclosed, but police confirmed that the efforts were not successful in stopping Johnson’s actions. The officer reportedly issued multiple verbal commands, instructing Johnson to comply, but Johnson continued to resist.

As the situation escalated further and attempts at de-escalation failed, the officer discharged his firearm, resulting in an officer-involved shooting. The exact number of shots fired and the distance between the two men at the time of the shooting are still under review by investigators.

Following the shooting, additional officers arrived at the scene and immediately began life-saving measures. Medical personnel also responded to the location and transported Johnson to a local hospital. Despite emergency treatment, Johnson was pronounced dead shortly after his arrival due to the severity of his injuries.

The officer involved in the altercation was also transported to a hospital, where he was treated for minor injuries sustained during the struggle. He has since been released and, in accordance with standard procedure, has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation.

Aurora Police have not released the identity of the officer involved but confirmed that body-worn camera footage from the incident is being reviewed. The 18th Judicial District Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) has taken over the investigation to determine whether the use of force was justified under the circumstances.

The department acknowledged the tragic nature of the event and committed to a thorough and transparent review. “This is a deeply unfortunate incident,” a police spokesperson said. “We will work closely with the CIRT to ensure that all facts are examined carefully and that the public is kept informed.”

No other injuries were reported at the scene, and police have not indicated that Johnson was armed during the encounter. Further information, including toxicology results and autopsy findings, will be made available as the investigation progresses.