ARVADA, Colo. — The Arvada Police Department revealed Friday one of its officers shot a “hero,” Johnny Hurley, after the Good Samaritan fatally shot a gunman accused of killing an Arvada police officer. Hurley was reportedly holding the gunman’s weapon when a responding officer arrived on scene.
Witnesses say Hurley shot the suspect, Rondal Troyke, in the Olde Town Arvada shooting after Officer Gordon Beesley was killed by the gunman, thedenverchannel reported. Chief Link Strate confirmed the tragic details during a video press statement (below).
Arvada police released limited details Friday afternoon of the horrific events that occurred on Monday, highlighting the tragic deaths of Hurley and Beesley.
According to the chief’s statement, “The threat to our officers and our community was stopped by a hero named Johnny Hurley. Johnny’s actions can only be described as decisive, courageous, and effective in stopping further loss of life.”
“What happened next is equally tragic. A responding Arvada officer encountered Mr. Hurley who was holding a rifle, and our officer shot him,” the chief said.
ARVADA POLICE DEPARTMENT VIDEO PRESS RELEASE — OLD TOWN ACTIVE SHOOTING
Arvada Police Department released a timeline of the incident, thedenverchannel reported.
• 12:49 p.m.: The suspect’s brother called asking for a welfare check because his brother was going to “do something crazy.”
• 1:08 p.m.: Officer Gordon Beesley and another Arvada officer attempted to contact the suspect, identified as Ronald Troyke, at his residence, to check his welfare but were unable to make contact with him, so they cleared from the call at 1:18 p.m.
• 1:17 p.m.: Dispatch received a call for a suspicious person in the Olde Town Square.
• 1:30 p.m.: Beesley was dispatched to the suspicious person call, arriving at the Olde Town Square at 1:31 p.m.
• 1:31 p.m.: Beesley parked on Webster Street and walked through an alley toward the Olde Town Square. As he walked westbound, Troyke pulled into the area in a truck and parked behind him. The suspect got out of his truck with a 12 gauge semi-automatic shotgun, ran after Beesley and yelled at him. Beesley stopped, turned and immediately was shot twice by the suspect. Beesley did not reach for his gun and took no defensive action. He turned in response to the suspect who then shot and killed him. Troyke then shot out the windows of patrol cars parked in the area and into the air. He ran back to his truck and retrieved an AR-15 and then ran back towards the Olde Town Square with the long gun, where he was confronted by Hurley. Hurley then shot the suspect with a handgun. A responding Arvada police officer then encountered Hurley, who was holding the suspect’s AR-15. The officer shot him.
