What started as a routine overnight break-in call on a quiet Thornton block ended with a man shot, a battered pickup, and a homicide investigation that has neighbors on edge.
Thornton police say officers were called to the 9700 block of Ogden Court around 3 a.m. Sunday after a resident reported someone breaking into their vehicle and then hearing gunfire. When officers arrived, they found a man suffering from a gunshot wound near a crashed truck. He was taken to a hospital, where he later died. His identity will be released by the Adams County Coroner once it is confirmed and relatives are notified.
At the scene, officers detained a 23-year-old individual in connection with the incident. That person was later released pending possible charges as detectives continue to sort out exactly what happened. Investigators say they do not believe the person who died and the detained individual knew each other.
What police say about the scene
According to investigators, the man who was shot tried to drive off in a truck after the reported break-in. In the scramble to get away, the truck slammed into several parked vehicles before coming to a stop. The man was found shot near the vehicle and rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Detectives are treating the case as a homicide while they collect evidence and interview witnesses, as reported by Denver7.
Not the first time break-ins escalated
This is not the first time a late night break-in report in Thornton has turned deadly. In January, an attempted break-in near Huron Street ended with one person dead and three people arrested, a reminder of how quickly a property crime can spiral into violence, per The Denver Gazette.
Investigation ongoing
Thornton Police have not said whether the truck involved in Sunday’s incident was stolen and have released few details about what led up to the shooting. They say more information will be made public after detectives and the Adams County Coroner complete key parts of the investigation.
Anyone who may have seen or heard anything around 3 a.m. in the area of Ogden Court is urged to contact Thornton Police. Updates are expected as the case develops, according to Denver7.
