On March 16, 2018 at approximately 2:45 p.m., Aurora Police Officers responded from around the entire city to the Town Center at Aurora Mall located at 14200 E. Alameda Ave. on the report of shots fired from inside the mall.

As Officers quickly arrived on scene, it was discovered that this was not an active shooter situation but rather an isolated disturbance between three adult male parties.  Through the course of the investigation, it was learned that a physical fight took place between parties and at least one gunshot was fired as a result of the physical altercation.  All three parties fled from within the mall and were quickly apprehended outside of the mall.  Two of the three male parties were transported to area hospitals to be evaluated for minor injuries.

Certain parts of the mall were briefly secured or evacuated during this incident but a speedy resolution to the incident allowed the mall to stay open for business.  The Aurora Police Department would like to note that the strong working relationship between the police department and mall management was evident during yesterday’s incident.  Police Officers were able to work closely with mall staff and officers even viewed live security camera feeds at the mall to efficiently take parties into custody.

Two males have been arrested in connection with this incident and are identified as Keshaun Thomas-Dunn (07/29/1998) and Devonte Shead (02/22/1998).  Thomas-Dunn was arrested with Possession of a Weapon by a Previous Offender and Aggravated Assault.  Shead was arrested for Attempted Second Degree Murder.  Thomas-Dunn’s and Shead’s mugshots are listed below.  The third male, who was in the company of Thomas-Dunn and Shead, was arrested for unrelated warrants and he is currently not facing charges in relation to this incident.  This third male is not being identified since he is not facing charges stemming from this incident.

The case is now in the hands of the 18th Judicial District and therefore further public inquiries into the details of the case will be referred to their organization.  It should be noted that all arrests in this case are merely accusations and the arrested persons are presumed innocent until or unless proven guilty.

  
Keshaun Thomas-Dunn                                                       Devonte Shead

Officer Bill Hummel
Public Information Officer
Media Relations Unit
(720) 432-5095

The Aurora Major Crimes/ Homicide Unit has identified the adult male suspect who was arrested during this murder investigation.  Travon Sanders (02/26/1986) was arrested on 03/16/2018 for the charge of First Degree Murder.  Sanders' mugshot is displayed below.

The case is now in the hands of the 18th Judicial District and therefore further public inquiries into the details of the case will be referred to their organization. 

If you have any information in regards to this incident, please contact Detective Chad Lampson at (303) 739-6013.



Officer Bill Hummel
Public Information Officer
Media Relations Unit
(720) 432-5095

Today, Aurora Police Chief Nick Metz remarked, "Every student and faculty member in a school not only has the right to be safe when at school, but they also have the right to feel safe at school.  It is our duty as law enforcement officers to keep the community safe and reduce the fear of crime.  My officers go to great lengths every day to accomplish this mission."  Recent tragedies in schools have touched the lives of many people in our communities across the nation.  The men and women of the Aurora Police Department are very cognizant of how such tragedy affects a community and our hearts go out to the many victims and survivors of these atrocious incidents.  

In light of recent acts of violence in schools, the Aurora Police Department has investigated an extraordinary number of threats directed toward Aurora’s schools.  With the advent of current technology, the vast majority of these threats have been made on social media platforms.  Individuals have made threats on Snap Chat, Facebook, Twitter, chat rooms, online gaming forums, and via other means.  The Aurora Police Department takes threats of violence towards our schools incredibly serious and we investigate each and every threat that comes to our attention to our fullest ability.

It is believed that some of the individuals making these threats are doing so for attention, as a joke, or for notoriety.  Regardless of their intent, such threats create fear and uncertainty for our students, faculty and parents.  We will not tolerate threats directed towards our schools.  Rather, we will conduct comprehensive investigations utilizing an array of technologies made available to us and we will seek to arrest any person who has made a threat directed towards a school.  The following is a compiled list of recent school threat incidents that have resulted in criminal charges.  Please note that several of the investigations remain open and the offenders are identified as juveniles, therefore releasable information is limited:

-2/17/2018 Corrected date is 2/14/2018, Hinkley High School threat incident, pending charges against one juvenile male

-2/23/2018, North Middle School threat incident, pending charges against one juvenile male

-2/23/2018, North Middle School threat incident, three juvenile females charged in connection with threats

-2/23/2018, Horizon Middle School threat incident, juvenile female charged in connection with threats

Threats to harm students and staff create fear and are not an appropriate way to garner attention.  If you make a threat, APD Officers will work diligently to arrest you.  Many other school threat investigations remain open and we are confident that more arrests will be made.

We continue to work closely with the Cherry Creek School District, Aurora Public Schools, and private institutions to insure the safety of our schools. 

WHAT YOU CAN DO:

Safety in our schools is everyone’s responsibility.  If you see something, say something.  Suspicious or threatening activities, viewed in-person or online, should be reported immediately to our dispatch center by calling 911.  Students, teachers and parents can also report incidents anonymously to Safe2Tell by calling (877) 542-7233.


Officer Bill Hummel
Public Information Officer
Media Relations Unit
(720) 432-5095