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APS continues to adapt to changing demographics throughout the city, particularly growth along the E-470 corridor and declining enrollment in other parts of Aurora. A number of neighborhood schools will close in other parts of the district as a result of the fluctuation.

Three more schools are scheduled to be built in the Aurora Highlands in the coming years.

— CARINA JULIG, Sentinel Staff Writer

POLICE Explosion at Aurora apartment building

More than 350 residents of a central Aurora apartment complex remain forced from their homes after an explosion inside the large complex blew a large hole through an outside wall Saturday morning.

Three people were injured, possibly from flying debris during the explosion, witnesses and officials said. All sustained minor injuries, fire officials said.

Some residents said fire officials were reporting structural damage to the building’s foundation.

“Initial reports indicate 216 apartments and 350 people have been impacted,” according to American Red Cross officials, responding to the scene. “We have opened an emergency shelter at Gateway High School.”

Red Cross officials said anyone affected by the incident can visit the evacuation center for aid.

“Volunteers are standing by to provide comfort and care,” Red Cross officials said in a statement. “Disaster health and mental health services as well as individual disaster assistance and feeding services are available.”

Residents were allowed 30 minutes on Sunday to retrieve personal items, taking turns at appointed times depending on which of five floors they live on. It’s unclear when some or any of the residents will be able to return to their apartments.

“There were more than 100 individuals, 16 dogs, 8 cats and 1 bird being provided comfort and care at the evacuation center which was opened at Gateway High School,” Aurora Fire and Rescue spokesperson Sherri-Jo Stowell said in a statement.

Hours after the explosion, some people living the complex were in bathrobes or under Red Cross blankets waiting to hear about retrieving personal items or temporary housing, residents waiting outside said.

Calls from The Sentinel to apartment property managers were not returned.

Aurora Fire and Rescue said they were called to Parkside Collective Apartments at 14565 E. Alameda Ave. just before 10 a.m. to investigate reports of smoke.

“On arrival, crews began searching for hazards when an explosion occurred,” fire officials said in a tweet.

The blast caused a large hole in the wall outside of the complex.

— SENTINEL STAFF

Shooting due to possible road rage incident

A road-rage incident may have led to an unidentified woman being shot and wounded while in northwest Aurora Sept. 10, according to Aurora police.

At about 6:30 p.m., police said in a social media post that the shooting occurred in the area of East Montview Avenue and Havana Street.

“A woman was shot and officers applied a tourniquet,” police said in a tweet. “The injuries appear to be non-life-threatening.”

In a later post, police said the shooting “was possibly due to road rage.”

Police said they were looking for a red SUV but offered no other details about the shooter.

Police said anyone with information can call Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867. Tipsters can remain anonymous and still be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000, police said.

— SENTINEL STAFF

Arvada officer killed

Authorities have arrested a suburban Denver man on suspicion of first degree murder and other charges in the death of a 27-yearold police officer who was fatally shot while trying to break up a large family disturbance over the weekend.

Sonny Thomas Almanza, 31, of Arvada, was arrested by police late Sunday in connection with the shooting death of Arvada Officer Dillon Vakoff, police said in a statement released Monday.

Vakoff died at a hospital Sunday after being shot while he and another officer responded to the disturbance that spilled into a street outside a housing complex. He was the second Arvada police officer to be killed in the line of duty in two years.

Almanza was taken into custody at a hospital where he is recuperating from injuries sustained while exchanging gunfire with Vakoff and another officer early Sunday. He will be transferred to Jefferson County Jail when he is released from the hospital, the Arvada department said.

Vakoff and his fellow officer had been dispatched to check on the well-being of two minor children when they encountered the disturbance, police said. A suspect opened fire, wounding a woman, at which point the officers returned fire, Police Chief Link Strate said at a news conference Sunday. The suspect then fired at Vakoff, Strate said.

The suspect was wounded by the officers and taken to a local hospital. The woman allegedly wounded by the suspect also was hospitalized and was expected to recover, police said.

Almanza was arrested for investigation of first-degree murder, possession of a weapon by a previous offender, and two misdemeanor

Time to hit the trails!

Lace up your sneaks for a timed 5K race beginning at Tagawa Gardens and running along the Cherry Creek Regional Trail. Walkers and all ages welcome! Funds support trail maintenance and Arapahoe County Open Spaces. BBQ dinner and live bluegrass at the finish line!

Thursday, Sept. 15, 2022 | 5:30–7:30 p.m.

Get details: arapahoecountyeventcenter.com/5ktrailseries

SAVE THE DATE

Racial Equity Subcommittee Information Gathering Session

Come meet the committee and share your thoughts about racial equity in the justice system.

Monday, September 19 | 6 P.M. Ready to Work Aurora: 3176 S. Peoria Court Aurora, CO 80014 3rd Floor

Thank you to our host location: Scan QR code for details.