Confessed Littleton Shooter Sentenced To 30 Years In Prison

LITTLETON, CO — A Denver man who admitted to shooting at Littleton drivers in August 2019 was sentenced Thursday to 30 years in prison, officials said.

The sentence comes after the man, Theodore Hrdlicka, 51, pleaded guilty to three counts of attempted first-degree murder in November 2021.

Hrdlicka, who claimed to be drunk and high while committing the crimes, was seen kicking a vehicle in traffic before getting back into his truck and firing a handgun at the vehicle, according to officials.

Hrdlicka fired "indiscriminately" at Littleton vehicles on two other occasions over a short period of time in Littleton, though no one was injured, officials said.

Police were able to link these crimes to a similar case that occurred in Adams County later that same day.

"The actions of this defendant are appalling and unfathomable,” District Attorney Brian Mason said, of the Adams County case. "These innocent victims were going on a family camping trip when Mr. Hrdlicka inexplicably started shooting at a little boy, his father, and his grandfather. I’m grateful we were able to achieve justice in this case."

On Oct. 22, Hrdlicka was sentenced to 25 years in prison following an earlier guilty plea to attempted murder.

"The fact that these acts were similar to his actions in Adams County does not diminish what happened in this case," Senior Deputy District Attorney Colleen Greer said. "He indiscriminately
fired a weapon toward six people here in Arapahoe County. The victims here also deserve justice."

Hrdlicka's wife — who was in the car during both the Littleton and Adams County shootings — pleaded guilty to one count of first-degree assault and was sentenced to 10 years in prison, officials said. She will serve the sentence concurrently with an identical sentence in the Adams County case.

Hrdlicka will also serve his Arapahoe County sentence concurrently with his Adams County sentence, officials said.

"What kind of person randomly fires a gun at cars with people inside?” District Attorney John Kellner asked. "There is no excuse or explanation for such actions that put others at such great risk. This outcome is appropriate."