Mile High Murder, No. 23: July 4 homicide on 1700 block of Billings Street in Aurora

View Larger Map One of the loud noises heard by people living in the vicinity of 1700 Billings Street, an area captured in the graphic above (if you have problems seeing the image, click "View Larger Map"), wasn't caused by Fourth of July fireworks. It was a gunshot that left...

By Michael Roberts

July 5, 2009

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View Larger Map

One of the loud noises heard by people living in the vicinity of 1700 Billings Street, an area captured in the graphic above (if you have problems seeing the image, click "View Larger Map"), wasn't caused by Fourth of July fireworks. It was a gunshot that left a thus-far-unidentified man dead.

The Aurora Police Department release is below:

DATE: July 5, 2009 [2:35am]

NATURE: Homicide Investigation

Aurora, Colo. - On Saturday, July 4, 2009, shortly before 11:30 p.m., Aurora Police Officers responded to the 1700 block of Billings Street on a report of an assault with a gun.

Officers arrived and found an adult male victim who had been fatally shot in the parking lot of an apartment complex. Officers secured the area and investigators were requested at the scene.

Major Crimes Unit/Homicide detectives are working together with the Crime Scene Investigation Unit to collect evidence, interview witnesses and develop leads in the case.

Anyone with information about this investigation is asked to contact MCU Detective Gretchen Fronapfel at (303) 739-6013.

Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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