Aurora, Colorado – The mother of Kilyn Lewis is speaking out against comments made by an Aurora City Council member regarding her son’s death. During a recent city council meeting, Councilwoman Danielle Jurinsky labeled the incident as “murder,” but explained that it was considered justified under the law.
Expressing her condolences to the family of Kilyn Lewis, Jurinsky emphasized the legal definition of the incident as murder, though she clarified it as justified murder during the meeting. The 37-year-old unarmed Black man’s death was initially referred to as “murder” by Jurinsky on the “Brother Jeff Show” on Facebook in May 2025.
At the recent Aurora City Council gathering, Jurinsky reiterated her characterization of Lewis’ death as murder but aimed to provide additional context to her statement made on the local podcast. The situation surrounding the incident was further elaborated upon during the council session.
Aurora City Councilwoman’s comments drawing pushback from Kilyn Lewis’s mother
“I was given the legal advice that to say Kilyn Lewis was murdered is not out of line, and it is not incorrect. He was murdered, but it was found to have been justified,” Jurinsky said.
On May 23, 2024, Aurora SWAT officer Michael Dieck shot and killed 37-year-old Lewis. On Oct. 11, 2024, the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office announced it would not press criminal charges against Dieck, but Dieck is no longer on the Aurora SWAT Team.
In response to the statement Jurinsky made during Monday’s Aurora City Council meeting, Lewis’ mother LaRonda Jones said, “Councilwoman Jurinsky spoke the truth when she called it murder. What’s painful is watching her now try to rewrite that truth to protect herself instead of protecting the community she claims to service.”
Denver7 reached out to the Aurora Police Department for comment and are waiting to hear back.
Aurora
DA: No charges will be filed against Aurora officer who shot, killed Kilyn Lewis
Both the Aurora and Denver police departments had Lewis under surveillance on an outstanding warrant for attempted first-degree murder in relation to a shooting on May 5, 2024. During an arrest attempt, Lewis pulled an object out of his pocket — later identified as a cell phone — in front of armed SWAT members, seen in bodycam video footage released in June 2024.
18th Judicial DA John Kellner said the officers formed a semi-circle around Lewis as he was exiting his car. Lewis moved from the trunk to the driver’s side door, as Officer Dieck told Lewis to “get on the ground” several times. Lewis “raised his right hand while keeping his left hand by his side, and continued to walk towards the driver’s side door of the car,” according to Kellner.
Once Lewis reached the door, he “lowered his right hand and began to move his hand around in the vicinity of the right rear of his pants.” Kellner said that Lewis “[appeared] to manipulate something in his waistband or pocket.” Following a second round of commands, Lewis “slightly bends his knees and appears to be retrieving something from his right rear pocket,” according to Kellner. That’s when Dieck fatally shot Lewis.
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