(April 10, 2025) – The Aurora Police Department announced Thursday it has arrested a repeat, violent offender involved in numerous crimes throughout the city of Aurora.
Mark Jackson, 18, of Aurora, was arrested Tuesday night in connection with a nonfatal shooting that occurred last Friday, April 4, at a gas station in the 3200 block of Peoria Street.
Jackson has an extensive violent criminal history with the Aurora Police Department and is currently on parole for a prior weapons conviction. He also is the defendant in an active attempted murder case stemming from a carjacking that occurred in October 2024, just hours before his 18th birthday.
“Mark Jackson is a prime example of Colorado’s flawed criminal justice system, particularly with respect to the state’s juvenile offenders,” said Aurora police Chief Todd Chamberlain. “There is no accountability for criminal actions. There is no justice for victims. There is no meaningful rehabilitation.
“There is evidence in this case that Jackson did not know the victims of Friday’s shooting and that he randomly targeted them. The public should be outraged that this violent, repeat offender has continued to navigate our criminal justice system without consequence and was allowed to continue to prowl our streets victimizing our community.”
About 10 p.m. last Friday, Aurora police patrol officers responded to a nonfatal shooting at a gas station in the 3200 block of Peoria Street. The victim, who sustained a non-life-threatening gunshot wound, and five associates later told investigators they were filming a music video when a white SUV traveling south on Peoria Street fired numerous rounds in their direction. The victims noted the shots sounded like automatic gunfire.
Investigators developed information the suspect vehicle was a 2003 white Chevrolet Suburban. Investigators located the vehicle Tuesday near East Quincy Avenue and South Parker Road.
Aurora police officers attempted to pull over the Suburban, but Jackson sped away from police. Officers did not engage in a pursuit, but continued to monitor the vehicle’s movements until Jackson and a female passenger abandoned the SUV in a neighborhood near East Mississippi Avenue and South Sable Boulevard. Officers attempted to contact the two suspects, which prompted a brief foot pursuit.
Officers were forced to deploy a Taser to apprehend Jackson. The female passenger was taken into custody without incident.
Officers recovered two firearms from the scene, including a 9mm Glock 19 handgun outfitted with a switch. A switch is a device that converts a semi-automatic handgun into a fully automatic weapon. Investigators believe the converted automatic firearm was the gun used in Friday’s shooting. Officers also recovered a .40-caliber Taurus Millenium G2 handgun from the female passenger.
Several units assisted with the investigation and Tuesday’s arrests, including Aurora police’s Gun Violence Suppression Team, the Gang & Robbery Investigations Team, Patrol, the Gang Intervention Unit, K9 and officers assigned to the agency’s Real Time Information Center. The Denver Police Department’s Air 1 helicopter also responded to assist.
“This was an outstanding display of teamwork by everyone involved to take a violent suspect into custody and bring this case to a successful resolution,” said Kevin Barnes, chief of the Aurora Police Department’s Patrol Division. “I commend everyone involved for their commitment and dedication to community safety and thank the Denver Police Department for providing vital air support for this investigation.”
Jackson was booked into the Aurora Municipal Detention Center on charges of possession of a weapon by a previous offender, possession of a prohibited large capacity magazine, possession of a dangerous or illegal weapon, and vehicular eluding, felonies, as well as a misdemeanor charge of reckless driving. Additional charges are pending further investigation into last week’s shooting.
The passenger, a 16-year-old Aurora girl, was arrested on charges of unlawful possession of a firearm by a juvenile, obstruction of a peace officer and violation of a protection order, all misdemeanors. She was also booked on an active warrant for failing to appear in court for a prior criminal offense, also a misdemeanor.
The girl is not being identified because she is a minor. Investigators do not believe she was involved in Friday’s shooting. However, she is a suspect in other Aurora Police Department criminal investigations.
According to state court records, Jackson is serving a two-year sentence of parole from the Colorado Division of Youth Services following a 2023 Aurora Police Department case in which he was convicted of possession of a weapon by a previous juvenile offender. In the last six months, Jackson has been arrested twice for possession of a converted automatic handgun. He was on parole during both arrests.
Jackson was arrested by the Aurora Police Department following a carjacking in October 2024. He is charged in that case in Arapahoe District Court with attempted first-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder, among others. Jackson posted $80,000 bond in that case and was released from custody. He was free on bond at the time of last Friday’s nonfatal shooting.
Jackson is being held on $250,000 bond. Formal charges in Friday’s shooting investigation will be filed by the 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.
The investigation is active and ongoing. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720.913.STOP (7867). Tipsters can remain anonymous and could be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000.
Joe Moylan
Public Information Officer
720.432.5095
AP25-62545