Aurora Park Shooting Update: 6 Teens Injured, Suspects At Large

AURORA, CO — Six teenagers were hospitalized after they were shot Monday afternoon at Nome Park in Aurora, police said.

The shooting occurred around 12:45 p.m. near Nome Street and 12th Avenue, according to the Aurora Police Department. Many bullet casings were seen scattered throughout the area.

The six victims — four boys and two girls ages 14 through 18 — were all hospitalized with injuries that weren't life-threatening, Aurora Police Chief Vanessa Wilson said in a news conference Monday afternoon. One of the victims was in surgery, she said. All six were Aurora Central High School students.

A school resource officer was the first to arrive on scene, and began "life-saving measures" on the teenager who went into surgery, police said.

The attack may have been a drive-by shooting, but some shooters may have been on foot, Wilson said. Multiple rounds were fired and police were searching for multiple suspects, she said.

Police originally reported five victims, but a sixth victim, 18, took themselves to a hospital to be treated for minor injuries, police said.

The nearby Aurora Central High School was placed under a 'secure perimeter' while an investigation was underway, police said. A gangs unit was also investigating.

"When I got the call, my heart dropped ... this is a public health crisis," Wilson said. "There's a violence crisis across the nation right now ... I need us all to be outraged with what happened here today ... We need help from the community."

The identities of the suspects were not known.

"Aurora Police will increase patrol in the area of Aurora Central High School and Nome Park in the coming days," the department said in a news release Monday evening. "Please continue to keep those impacted by this tragedy in your thoughts."

Wilson asked anyone with information or video footage to call Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867.