A 32-year-old man shot in the arm by Aurora police after allegedly firing at them on Thanksgiving night was arrested on suspicion of five counts of attempted murder.
Arnadin Varupa was arrested after the shootout in the 900 block of South Dawson Way late Thursday night, Aurora police Chief Todd Chamberlain said Monday.
Police responded to multiple 911 calls about shots fired in the parking lot north of Mississippi Avenue and Sable Boulevard at 9:21 p.m.,
Investigators later found Varupa was arguing with his girlfriend in a nearby apartment when he left the building and fired his gun in the parking lot, Chamberlain said.
Responding officers saw Varupa sitting on a bus bench near Sable and Kentucky Drive at about 9:50 p.m. and initially gathered behind a building to coordinate an approach, but then realized he had spotted them.
Varupa began shooting at police after they identified themselves, hitting several vehicles, and fled the scene, Chamberlain said.
Officers returned fire and chased Varupa, eventually shooting him in the arm and detaining him after he fell to the ground. He was taken to the hospital with serious injuries but is expected to survive.
Six officers were involved in the shooting and have been placed on paid leave. None were injured.
The initial report of shots fired in the parking lot is being investigated by the Aurora Police Departmentap Major Crime Homicide Unit. Officers’ decision to shoot is being investigated by the 18th Judicial Districtap Critical Incident Response team and APD’s Internal Investigations Bureau.
