Aurora Police Arrest Suspect Following Thanksgiving Night Shootout
Aurora, CO – The Aurora Police Department reported the arrest of 32-year-old Arnadin Varupa on several counts, including five charges of attempted murder of a police officer, stemming from an armed confrontation on Thanksgiving night. The incident unfolded around 9:25 p.m. when police received multiple calls about gunfire in the vicinity of the 900 block of S. Dawson Way.
According to police officials, the altercation began after Varupa allegedly had an argument with his girlfriend and began shooting at vehicles outside an apartment complex. Initial efforts to locate Varupa were unsuccessful. However, about 25 minutes later, officers spotted him at a bus stop holding a weapon.
Aurora Police Chief Todd Chamberlain stated that officers attempted to engage with Varupa using de-escalation techniques but were met with a barrage of gunfire from the suspect. “Our officers gave multiple commands to drop the weapon,” Chamberlain reported. Following this, police returned fire, striking Varupa in the arm. After the exchange, Varupa fled the scene but was subsequently apprehended and taken to the hospital for treatment before being placed in police custody.
Six officers involved in the incident have been placed on administrative leave as per standard procedures. Chief Chamberlain emphasized the potential dangers posed by Varupa, noting he was armed with a handgun equipped with an extended magazine, which increased the risk to public safety. “We’re lucky that no one was killed in this incident,” he remarked.
The shooting is under investigation by the 18th Judicial District Critical Incident Response Team. Since this incident, there have been further confrontations involving armed suspects in nearby areas.
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