AURORA, Colo. – Investigators have identified the girl at the center of a "suspicious incident" at Cornerstore Shopping Center, the Aurora Police Department announced late Wednesday.
At around 8:45 p.m. Friday, police said four men who arrived in a black Mercedes Benz sedan were waiting in the parking lot of the Cornerstar Shopping Center in the 15700 block of E. Briarwoood Circle next to a Nissan SUV when of the men walks off and approaches two women.
Initial surveillance video obtained by police showed the man grabbing one of the women by the arm and pulling her to the Nissan. Moments later, the man pulls the woman over to the Mercedes and places her in the backseat.
But new surveillance video obtained by investigators shows one of the suspects slapping the victim in the face before pulling her over to the Nissan SUV and placing her into the backseat of the Mercedes Benz, according to a Wednesday afternoon news release from Aurora police.
Information obtained from a witness stated that they had overheard “the victim asking an unknown person for help because the suspect had been assaulting her,” the release states.
Wednesday afternoon, Aurora PD released photos of the two women involved in the suspicious incident, as well as a photo of a fourth man believed to be involved.
“We’ve also obtained video showing the victim arrived at Cornerstar Shopping Center in the Nissan SUV. The driver, who’s photo we first shared earlier today, is associated with the victim, but not involved in the crime,” said APD spokesman Joe Moylan.
At 9:28 p.m., Aurora PD said in a tweet that investigators had positively identified the girl, who is under 18 years old. The girl and person of interest know each other, according to the department.
Unless other information is obtained, no charges are expected to be filed, Aurora PD Agent Matthew Longshore said Wednesday evening.
