The Arvada Police Department in Denver released more details on the June 21 shooting that resulted in three deaths and revealed what happened when a gunman ambushed and killed a police officer.
A 40-year-old man ran toward the violence while others scattered away.
Police said John Hurley approached the gunman, pulling out his concealed firearm and firing at the attacker. He took him down. After the gunman fell, Hurley picked up the rifle the shooter was using, and when officers arrived on the scene, they shot and killed Hurley, assuming he was the active shooter because he was still holding the rifle. Instead, he was the hero that saved countless lives.
“The threat to our officers and our community was stopped by a hero named Johnny Hurley,” Arvada Police Chief Link Strate said in a Friday statement. “Johnny’s actions can only be described as decisive, courageous and effective in stopping further loss of life.”
The situation unfolded after the brother of shooter, 59-year-old Ronald Troyke, contacted the police for a welfare check as he feared he was going to “do something crazy,” the Washington Post reported. However, the police were unable to find him after visiting his home.
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Police later discovered that Troyke had written he wanted “to kill an Arvada PD officer” and that “I just hope I don’t die without killing any of you pigs.”
A suspicious person call was made just a little after 1:30 p.m., and Officer Gordon Beesley responded near the city’s Olde Town Square. The Arvada Police Department released security footage showing Beesley walking west near the square when a black pickup truck pulled into a nearby parking spot.
The suspect stepped out of the truck with a semiautomatic shotgun and began running after Beesley, who turned to look back when he was shot at by the gunman. After shooting at Beesley, Troyke went back to his pickup, switching the shotgun for a rifle.
According to Police, Trokey went back toward the square with an AR-15 when Hurley confronted him, shooting him fatally with his handgun.
This was when another officer, who was not named, arrived shortly after and saw Hurley holding the AR-15. It is assumed the officer thought Hurley was the gunman because he opened fire, killing Hurley, the police said on Friday.
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According to police, the Critical Incident Response Team will be investigating the shooting that took Hurley’s life.
Beesley also lost his life. He was a 19-year veteran officer.
Friends, family, and community members gathered on Saturday night in downtown Arvada to honor Hurley at a candlelight vigil.
“I don’t really think he knew what kind of mark he was leaving on the world,” Jennifer Masterson, a friend of the Hurley family, said to KMGH-TV. “I wish he could see all the people that are impacted by him. A lot of people talk about what they would do in that situation, but it’s rare that someone actually has the fortitude to actually do something about it.”