Update 6:23 p.m. Sept. 23, 2025: The identified the teen shot and killed by Aurora police Thursday as Blaze Aleczander Balle-Mason and ruled his death a homicide.
Original story: Aurora police fatally shot a teenage boy Thursday night who officers say threatened to open fire inside a gas station.
The victim has not yet been identified. Police said they believe he was a white 17-year-old. No one else was injured during the incident, Aurora police said.
Officers responded to the incident around 7:30 p.m. Thursday when the teen called 911 threatening to open fire inside a gas station in the 200 block of Havana Street and warning that he would shoot at police, according to
The gas station owner locked himself inside the business and called police, as well, said Aurora Police Chief Todd Chamberlain during a
Three police officers arrived on the scene and found the suspect who ignored their instructions to show his hands and get on the ground, Chamberlain said.
One officer fired less-lethal munitions at the teen, but the projectiles “had no effect” on him, police said. The teen was behaving aggressively, Chamberlain said, and ran toward police. An Aurora officer shot him with a pistol, Chamberlain said.
“Officers performed lifesaving actions on the suspect until medical responders arrived at the scene and rushed him to the hospital,” the news release said. “The suspect, believed to be 17, was later pronounced dead at the hospital.”
Chamberlain said the suspect told police he had a gun and behaved as though he had a firearm but that no gun was located after the incident.
Chamberlain said there wasn’t an opportunity for officers to do crisis intervention when the suspect threatened to shoot up a business.
“This is not an event that any officer wants to be a part of,” Chamberlain said. “This is a tragedy. This is an incredibly sad circumstance.”
The officer who shot the teen was put on paid administrative leave per agency police, police said.
The 18th Judicial Critical Incident Response Team is leading the investigation into the shooting. The Aurora Police Department is also reviewing the incident.
“It will unfold without prejudice,” Chamberlain said of the investigation. “It will unfold without bias. It will be a complete, concise, methodical investigation.”
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867.
