Now, representatives of the Aurora Police Department have released a surveillance photo of the man who pulled the trigger.
See a larger version of the image below, and get the latest about an increased reward being dangled in the case.
As we've reported, the incident took place just after 2 p.m. Sunday at the Pleasures branch located on Havana. The sole employee on the job at the time was shot in the chest and the gunman managed to get away -- for now. Fortunately, the clerk is expected to survive.
In the wake of the attack, reports circulated about surveillance video, with the suggestion that cameras had caught the shooter before he pulled a blue bandanna over the lower half of his face. But thus far, the APD hasn't released any footage -- investigators need to finish interviews and other followup before it will be made public, department spokesman Officer Frank Fania notes -- and the sole image shared to date shows the aforementioned bandanna very much in place.
Here's the pic:
Even though the image is clear, the bandanna and hoodie worn by the man will make identification a challenge. However, the APD is offering an additional incentive to look close. The previous reward for information on the perpetrator was the standard $2,000 offered through Crime Stoppers. Now, that number has been boosted to $2,500, bringing the total to $4,500.Who to call if you recognize the man with his finger on the trigger? Detective Matt Ingui at 303-739-6067 or Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP (7867).
Here's the initial 9News report on the shooting.
Continue for our previous coverage of the wounding of the Pleasures employee. Original post, 5:50 a.m. May 20: Who goes into Pleasures adult entertainment stores during the age of the Internet, when footage of naked people getting horizontal (and every other direction) is just a mouse-click away? Among other folks, thieves. The owner of the branch in Aurora says the business suffers about eight robberies per year.In the past, such stick-ups have been injury-free, but not the one that took place yesterday. The broad-daylight incident ended with a bullet to the chest. Continue for photos, video and details.
At about 2:15 p.m. yesterday, according to the Aurora Police Department, cops responded to the store, located on the 1800 block of South Havana, in regard to a shooting report.
There, they found the sole employee on the job at the time suffering from a gunshot wound in the upper torso. He was transported to an area hospital with what are described as life-threatening injuries that, at this writing, he appears to have survived.The motive for the crime is likely robbery, especially given the history at this particularly shop, but police concede at this point that they're not certain. APD spokesman Officer Frank Fania conceded to 9News that while the victim was able to talk when emergency personnel arrived, he was unable to convey much information given his condition.
The store's surveillance cameras reportedly captured images of the gunman before he pulled a blue bandanna over his face, but the video hasn't been released thus far. In the meantime, police are circulating the following description of the suspect: He's said to be a twenty-something black male between five-seven and five-nine, weighing approximately 150 pounds, with an "Afro" type hairstyle at about one-inch in height. In addition to the aforementioned bandanna, he wore a black hoodie and white tennis shoes. He was last seen running toward the rear of the business, although he could have fled in a car.As for the employee, the APD is not releasing his name.
If you know anything about this shooting, police encourage you to phone Detective Matt Ingui at 303-739-6067 or Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP (7867). A reward of up to $2,000 is being offered for information leading to the shooter's capture and conviction.
More from our Mile High Murder archive: "Chris Haney, Gothic Theatre staffer, dies in Denny's shooting, Robert Bernal busted (75)."
