Aurora Police Shooting: Intruder IDed; Stepson Recalls Shooting

AURORA, CO – The Adams County Coroner on Wednesday released the identity of the alleged intruder shot Monday in an Aurora home by a homeowner who was later shot and killed by Aurora police.

Dajon Harper, 26, was identified as the deceased man who allegedly burst naked into a home at 10609 E Montview Blvd., grabbed a sleeping 11-year-old child off of a couch and tried to strangle the child and drown him in the bathtub.

The homeowner, and grandfather of the child, Robert "Gary" Black, 73, was shot by officers responding to multiple 911 calls from the residence.

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In the confusion, an officer saw Black holding a gun and shot at him, hitting him. Black was taken to a hospital and later died of his injuries, Aurora police said.

The officers then cleared the home, police said. Inside, they found a seriously injured child and Harper, dead on the bathroom floor. The child was taken to a hospital for "serious, but non-life-threatening injuries, caused by the deceased intruder," the police statement said. Black's wife was also taken to the hospital for injuries.

In a statement, Aurora Police chief Nick Metz described the situation when officers arrived as "a very chaotic and violent scene" at the single-family home. Officers heard "gunshots fired from inside the home," Aurora police said.

The family's attorney, Siddhartha Rathod described Black's heroic actions to save his grandson, who has been released from the hospital, he told Denver7.

"Gary is absolutely the hero who saved his grandson's life," Rathod said. "His death is a tragic incident."

Black's stepson Chad Hayashi told ABC news Wednesday that Harper kicked in the door and Hayashi woke up to a strange woman standing in the doorway of his bedroom who told him,"My son is on drugs and he has your baby."

Hayashi said he saw a strange man in the house and the bathroom light on.

“I immediately just shot into the bathroom to find this naked guy soaking wet … choking my son, biting his left ear,” Hayashi said. His step-father, Black, rushed to get his 9 mm handgun, for which he had a permit, Hayashi said, and fired on Harper.

Almost immediately Hayashi heard other gunshots and police swarmed the house, taking him out, as well as the boy. Hayashi saw his father put into handcuffs, he said, although Black was bleeding, he told TV interviewers.

The officer involved was placed on administrative reassignment with pay Aurora Police said.

But 9NEWS reported Wednesday that the officer who shot Black was involved in another officer-involved shooting in June. The station agreed not to name the officer. Although officers are usually put on administrative leave after an incident, this officer was back on patrol while the investigation into the first shooting took place, the station said.

The June 27 shooting occurred in the 8900 block of Colfax around 12:30 a.m., when officers responded to a call reporting gunshots. Officers encountered a man who reportedly did not follow orders to drop a gun and fled on foot. The officer shot him and the man ran around a corner where officers shot him again. He was taken to a hospital and later died.

Aurora police have announced they will hold a press conference Thursday to release more information.

Image via Aurora Police