Two people were killed and three others were wounded in a Christmas Eve shooting at an Aurora apartment complex, police said, as detectives searched for the shooter and tried to learn what sparked the gunfire in a neighborhood east of Denver.
The late-night violence left residents rattled and drew attention because it happened as many families were finishing holiday gatherings. Police have described the shooting as involving people who knew each other, a detail investigators say can shape how quickly they identify witnesses and narrow in on a suspect. But as of Thursday, authorities had not announced an arrest or named a suspect, and they said they were still working to confirm where on the property the shooting began.
Aurora police said officers responded at about 9:30 p.m. Wed., Dec. 24, to reports of a shooting at the Augusta Apartments in the 1800 block of Billings Street near Evergreen Avenue. When officers arrived, they found multiple victims with apparent gunshot wounds, police spokesperson Joe Moylan said. Patrol officers began giving first aid and called for paramedics while other officers secured the area and searched for the shooter, Moylan said. All five victims were taken to hospitals with gunshot wounds. A 41-year-old woman and a 17-year-old boy later died at hospitals, police said. The three survivors were identified by police as an 18-year-old man, a 42-year-old woman and a 41-year-old woman.
Police did not release the names of the people killed, saying the Adams County Coroner’s Office would identify them after next-of-kin notifications and its standard process. Authorities also did not describe the conditions of the three survivors beyond saying their injuries were not described as life-threatening. Investigators did not say how many shots were fired or what type of weapon was used. Police also did not say whether the victims were shot inside one apartment unit, in a hallway or stairwell, or outdoors on the property. By late Wednesday night, parts of the complex were taped off, and officers moved through walkways and parking areas while detectives began collecting evidence, authorities said.
Residents and neighbors described hearing a burst of gunfire and then shouting, followed by people running through the complex as sirens approached. Some residents said the timing made the shooting especially jarring because Christmas Eve is often quieter than other nights, and several families said they had children at home when the shots rang out. Police have not said whether the 911 call came from a victim, a nearby resident, or multiple callers, but in shootings of this scale dispatchers often receive several reports that help officers pinpoint the initial location. Investigators said they were continuing to gather witness statements and were looking for video that could help track movements before and after the shooting.
Aurora police said their preliminary investigation indicates the shooting occurred between known parties. Police officials and local reporting described it as targeted, stressing that it was not believed to be a random attack on strangers. Aurora Police Department spokesperson Gabby Easterwood said investigators believed the people involved knew each other, a point authorities highlighted as they tried to balance public concern with the need to avoid releasing details that could compromise the case. Even in shootings involving acquaintances, detectives still must determine whether one person fired all the shots, whether anyone else helped plan or carry out the violence, and whether a suspect left before officers arrived or stayed nearby.
The city’s Major Crime Homicide Unit took over the investigation, which is standard when a shooting results in deaths. In the first day of a homicide case, investigators typically work to build a minute-by-minute timeline, figure out who was present, and separate people who saw the shooting from those who only heard gunfire. At large apartment complexes, that work can be complicated by shared entryways, parking lots and courtyards, and by residents who may be reluctant to speak if they fear retaliation or if the people involved are neighbors or relatives. Police said the circumstances leading up to the shooting remained under investigation and that they had not identified a motive.
Detectives also faced basic unanswered questions: where exactly the shots were fired, who the shooter was, and how the five victims were connected to each other. Police said they were not ready to describe the relationships among the victims, beyond saying the shooting involved known parties. Investigators often test those early impressions against physical evidence and digital records, including phone data, messages and social media posts when they are relevant and legally obtained. Authorities did not say Thursday what evidence they had collected so far or whether they had recovered a firearm. They also did not say whether any property was damaged, such as vehicles or apartment windows, or whether anyone else was injured while fleeing.
The Augusta Apartments sit near Billings Street and Evergreen Avenue in a part of Aurora with multi-unit housing, busy neighborhood roads and small parks. Residents described a heavy police presence in the hours after the shooting, with patrol lights flashing against windows and officers blocking off certain walkways while detectives worked. Some people said they watched from their windows as investigators used flashlights to search the ground and photographed areas they believed were part of the crime scene. Police did not describe whether officers conducted door-to-door interviews on Christmas morning, but investigators often canvass nearby units and ask residents for information about who was visiting, who left quickly after the shots, and whether any surveillance cameras captured a suspect.
Authorities said they had no suspect information to release and that no arrests had been made. When police decline to release a suspect description, it can mean detectives are still working to confirm who fired the shots, or that investigators have a likely person of interest but do not yet have enough evidence to make an arrest that will hold up in court. It can also mean the suspect’s identity is tied to witness cooperation, and investigators are still trying to locate people who fled the scene or who will talk only after they feel safe. Police did not announce a schedule for a news briefing and did not say when they expected to release additional details.
The five-victim shooting also renewed attention on how violence can spread quickly in dense housing settings. In apartment communities, disputes can spill into shared spaces, and bystanders may be close by even if they are not part of the conflict. Investigators often seek video from building cameras, doorbell cameras and nearby businesses, and they frequently ask residents to preserve recordings before systems overwrite them. Police did not publicly detail a specific request for tips Thursday, but they said the investigation remained active and ongoing. As prosecutors become involved, detectives are expected to work with them on potential charges once a suspect is identified, which in Colorado can include various homicide counts, attempted murder and weapons offenses depending on the facts.
For residents, the deaths of a 41-year-old woman and a teenage boy added to the shock. Several people said they had noticed children playing earlier in the day as families marked the holiday, then later heard gunfire and saw police flood the property. Authorities said the coroner’s office would release the victims’ names after notifications, a step that can take time during holidays. Police have not said whether any of the survivors required surgery or whether any had been released from the hospital, details that are often withheld early to protect privacy and avoid affecting witness cooperation.
As of Friday, police said the case remained under investigation with no suspect information and no arrests announced. The next expected milestone is identification of the two people who died by the Adams County Coroner’s Office, followed by further updates from detectives as they complete interviews and review any available video.
Author note: Last updated Dec. 26, 2025.