Downtown Aurora was briefly locked down Tuesday after reports of gunfire near East Downer Place and Union Street ended with two men in handcuffs, and streets later reopened, police said.
According to the Aurora Police Department, officers zeroed in on a vehicle of interest and took two people into custody without incident. No injuries were reported, and the downtown area was reopened after investigators cleared the scene.
Officers were dispatched after multiple 911 calls for gunshots around East Downer Place and Union Street, and an automated license plate reader identified a vehicle tied to the incident. Police located and stopped that car shortly afterward, which led to arrests on the scene.
Charges and booking
Per the Aurora Police Department, the arrestees are 27-year-old Vrian Cruz and 31-year-old Roque Parra-Salinas. Cruz is charged with reckless discharge of a firearm and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon, while Parra-Salinas faces those weapons charges as well as a driving-under-the-influence charge. Both were taken to the county jail for processing, and court dates and bond details were not immediately available.
Police said the arrests unfolded "without incident" and that investigators were canvassing for witnesses and video to determine what led up to the shooting reports. Detectives continue to work the scene as the case moves forward.
How officers tracked the vehicle
Aurora officials credited an automated license plate reader with helping officers quickly find the vehicle in the downtown area. The department did not say whether any firearms or other evidence were recovered during the stop, while detectives continue evidence collection.
What’s next
The charges are allegations, and the suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court. Aurora Police asked anyone with tips or footage to call the department at 630-256-5000 or file a report through the department's online portal at the Aurora Police site.
