A former U.S. Space Force sergeant has been found guilty of murder after fatally shooting a 14-year-old and wounding another teen during a chaotic late-night chase in a Denver suburb.
Orest Schur, 27 at the time of the shooting, was convicted of second-degree murder in the death of 14-year-old Xavier Daniel Kirk and for injuring a 13-year-old boy. The incident unfolded just after 11 p.m. on July 5, 2023, in North Aurora, Colorado, after Schur believed the boys were trying to steal his car.
According to Aurora police, the teens were seen dressed in black, attempting to break into Schur’s Hyundai Elantra when a car alarm went off. Residents witnessed the attempted theft and alerted authorities. But before police could arrive, Schur took matters into his own hands.
Instead of waiting for law enforcement, the off-duty Space Force technical sergeant jumped into his car and pursued the teens, who fled in a different vehicle — a suspected stolen Kia Rio. A short distance later, that vehicle crashed into a backyard fence.
That’s when Schur opened fire.
Police said Schur fired several rounds at the teens, striking both. Xavier was killed, and the second teen was seriously injured. No weapons were recovered from the teens, and evidence contradicted Schur’s initial claim that he had been fired upon first.
A probable cause affidavit obtained by local outlet KUSA revealed that officers found the Kia with a shattered rear windshield, a bullet hole in the trunk, and a bullet that had passed through the driver’s seat — all signs of a targeted shooting from behind.
Schur’s wife told police that her husband had prior weapons training and had served two tours in Afghanistan. At the time, he was stationed at Buckley Space Force Base in Aurora.
Although Colorado does not have a formal “Stand Your Ground” law, its courts have ruled that there’s no legal duty to retreat before using force in public. Still, prosecutors argued that Schur’s decision to chase and shoot at fleeing suspects far exceeded any reasonable claim of self-defense.
Schur now faces a possible sentence of 16 to 48 years in prison. His sentencing hearing is scheduled for August 15 at 1:30 p.m.
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Author: thedailycrime1
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