AURORA, Colo. — Authorities have apprehended three individuals in connection with the recent tragic incident where a 16-year-old girl lost her life during a home invasion in west Aurora.
The home invasion and subsequent shooting occurred Tuesday at about 6 a.m. near E. Jewell Ave. and S. Havana St.
Upon arrival at the scene, law enforcement discovered the teen, identified as 16-year-old Audrina Fedelina Arrington, with a gunshot wound. Despite the officers’ efforts to administer life-saving aid to the victim, she was eventually transported to a nearby medical facility where she succumbed to her injuries.
Based on an initial inquiry conducted by the police, it was disclosed that two men had visited the apartment where the teenage girl resided prior to 6 a.m. on Tuesday. An altercation ensued between the parties, leading to the discharge of multiple gunshots and tragically resulting in the teen being struck by a bullet.
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During a news conference following the deadly shooting, an Aurora Police Department spokesperson said they had “no reason to believe” the crime was related to the Venezuelan prison gang Tren de Aragua (TdA). The gang has been on the forefront of city leaders’ minds after claims spread on social media that some of its members had “taken over” a troubled apartment complex last summer.
Still, the APD spokesman said they would be looking at the criminal history of the apartment complex to determine if gang activity was to blame.
Series of arrests begin a day after deadly shooting
During the investigation, Aurora police developed information that 35-year-old Cooper Miller and 51-year-old David Gunion were the two armed suspects who entered the apartment at the time of the deadly shooting, according to a Friday news release.
Further investigation revealed 44-year-old April Chevon Collingwood was in charge of “planning and recruiting Miller and Gunion to carry out the crime,” the release states.
All of them were identified as Aurora residents.
An arrest affidavit for Collingwood obtained by Denver7 showed the deadly shooting was in retaliation for the alleged theft of tools and motorcycles from Collingwood’s storage unit by the father of the 16-year-old girl.
The affidavit states that, upon learning who was responsible, Collingwood had ordered both Miller and Gunion to get her stuff back, but said “that she never intended for anyone to get shot.”
The woman told police she did not know whether Gunion was armed but suspected that Miller was; however, she never saw him holding a firearm.
Arresting documents showed that once the suspects broke into the unit, they were met by the girl’s father, who was able to get his own gun before an exchange of gunfire ensued.
One of those bullets struck and killed the 16-year-old girl in the head, the affidavit states.
16-year-old girl killed in apparent home invasion in Aurora, police say
With the help of officers from the Denver Police Department’s Narcotics Unit, law enforcement officers arrested Collingwood on Wednesday on charges of complicity to commit second-degree murder, first-degree burglary and attempted aggravated robbery.
The following day, APD’s fugitive unit, along with DPD’s Metro SWAT Team, arrested Miller on charges of second-degree murder, first-degree burglary and attempted aggravated robbery.
And on Friday morning, Aurora police patrol officers, the city’s fugitive unit and its SWAT Team arrested Gunion, who also faces charges of second-degree murder, first-degree burglary and attempted aggravated robbery.
Aurora police said there are no more outstanding suspects in this investigation.
Collingwood appeared Thursday in Arapahoe District Court for an advisement hearing. She is being held on $100,000 bond. Formal charges against Miller and Gunion will be filed by the Arapahoe District Attorney’s Office, the department spokesperson said.
The investigation is still active and ongoing. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867. Tipsters can remain anonymous and could be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000.
