AURORA, Colo. — A 15-year-old boy was shot outside Southlands Mall and later died Saturday evening.
The shooting was reported at around 9:30 p.m. in a parking lot outside the mall where a large group of people, including teens from Smoky Hill and Grandview High Schools were celebrating homecoming, witnesses told Denver7.
Employees from Mt. Fuji Sushi & Hibachi restaurant ushered in other teens and witnesses who fled the gunshots and the doors were locked after the shooting unfolded.
“They were crying. There was one girl who was hugging her dad – like I’m so scared, I just want to go home. Adults were pretty mellow, but a lot of kids were kind of just in shock,” said Jordan Dimitrie, a witness to the shooting.
Aurora police said the teen was transported to a local hospital where he later died. He was later identified as Raphael Ivan Velin, 15.
Investigators were searching for several suspects who left the scene in a vehicle, but there was no other identifying information available.
Police believe the murder occurred during a pre-planned meeting between the involved parties.
Police increased patrols in and around the shopping center on Sunday. They plan to release more information during a press conference Monday.
The Aurora Police Department is asking witnesses from the area, along with residents from the Wheatlands neighborhood near the mall to check surveillance cameras, including home security cameras, to see if anything from the incident was recorded.
Anyone with information is being asked to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867.
#APDAlert Officers are investigating a fatal shooting outside the Southlands mall.
— Aurora Police Dept (@AuroraPD) October 1, 2023
When officers arrived they found one juvenile was suffering from a gunshot wound. Life-saving measures were conducted and the young man was transferred to the hospital where he passed away.
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