AURORA — Police on Wednesday identified the 20-year-old of an officer during a traffic stop and said more arrests in the case could be made.
Jahvell Daquan Forrest, 20, was arrested Tuesday based on information police gathered after they went door to door Sunday in the Aurora neighborhood where the shooting happened. Witnesses initially were reluctant to come forward in the case before the community broke its silence Sunday evening.
Police said Forrest has a long criminal history of misdemeanor offenses.
“Our suspect has no regard for anyone but himself,” interim Police Chief Terry Jones said at a news conference. “The investigation is ongoing, and we may have more than one individual.”
Police said they believe Forrest is the gunman. He is accused of first-degree attempted murder of a police officer and first-degree assault of a police officer. Information about the suspect came in ahead of a $35,000 reward fund being formed, Jones said.
“Most of it was done with down-and-dirty police work,” he said.
The department identified the wounded officer as Ryan Burns, an 11-year veteran of the force.
Burns was shot in the leg about 9 p.m. Friday after he and another officer pulled over a car on the 1700 block of Fulton Street. Burns was hit in his femoral artery, a potentially life-threatening wound.
Jones said Burns’ partner quickly administered a tourniquet, given to Aurora officers after the 2012 theater massacre. The tourniquet probably saved Burns’ life.
Police say Burns, who remains hospitalized, is in stable condition and is improving.
