Hulburt, 22, spent much of Saturday night at the Cowboy Lounge in LoDo, where he reportedly encountered no trouble. Afterward, he headed home in a silver Taurus with a friend, who was driving. But on I-225 near 6th Avenue, an SUV began tailgating their vehicle. The Taurus driver tapped his brakes a couple of times, which appears to have been enough of a provocation for someone in the SUV to pull up alongside the smaller car and shoot Hulburt dead.
No arrests yet, and plenty of questions remain. Look below to read the Aurora Police Department's releases on the crime, including an offer of a $5,000 reward, plus Channel 31's latest video report.
The Aurora Police Department is releasing the identity of the victim of the shooting on I-225 early this morning. He is 22 year old Michael Hulburt of unincorporated Arapahoe County.The suspect vehicle has been described as a dark colored SUV with dark windows. The headlights were described as "double decker" headlights. The top light is a white colored light. An amber colored light that is similar in shape and size to the white headlight is located just below it.
Initial indications are that just prior to the shooting, the silver Taurus that the victim was a passenger in was traveling southbound on I-225 just south of 6th Avenue in the left lane.
The suspect vehicle started tailgating and flashing its brights at the victim vehicle. The driver of the victim vehicle tapped on his brakes a couple of times.
The suspect vehicle pulled into the right lane up next to the victim vehicle and someone in that vehicle fired multiple rounds into the victim vehicle, at which point the victim was struck.
A reward of up to $5000.00 is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the shooting. Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact Det. Tom Wilson at 303.739.6711 or use the Text a Tip system.
Information released earlier on May 1:
The Aurora Police Department is offering a reward of up to $5000.00 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for the shooting that occurred early this morning on southbound I-225 near the Alameda exit.
Investigators believe the suspect vehicle may be a dark colored SUV with one amber colored headlight and one white colored headlight on each side of the front end of the vehicle.
Anyone with information is asked to call Det. Tom Wilson at 303.739.6711.
Persons with information may also us text us a tip on this or any other case at 274637 (Crimes) then title DMCS followed by the message.
Initial information release:
At approximately 2:40 this morning Aurora Public Safety Communications received a 911 call from a man saying his friend had been shot and that they were near South Potomac Street and East Mississippi Avenue.
Responding officers found two adult men in silver colored Ford Taurus in a business parking lot. The passenger was suffering from multiple gunshot wounds to the upper body. He was transported to a local hospital where he succumbed to his wounds.
The driver was not injured.
It appears that shots were fired at the victim from another car that pulled up next to the victim's car as they travelled southbound on I-225.
Southbound I-225 was closed for a few hours this morning while officers searched for evidence. It has now re-opened.
Major Crimes/Homicide detectives are in the early stages of their investigation. No motive has been established.
Anyone with information of this case is asked to contact Det. Tom Wilson at 303.739.6711.