AURORA, Colo. (KDVR) — The Aurora Police Department has arrested a man on suspicion of second-degree murder following a deadly shooting in a parking lot early Friday morning.
The shooting was reported around 2:25 a.m. in the parking lot of 6360 South Parker Road in the area of the Arapahoe Crossings shopping area.
When officers arrived at the scene, they said they learned the shooting stemmed from an altercation between a man and a woman, who were strangers to each other.
Police said the victim, a 46-year-old woman, was pronounced dead following the shooting. Her identity has not yet been released.
Police said the suspected shooter, John Thoren, 42, cooperated with officers on the scene.
He was taken to police headquarters and interviewed. After the interviews, police said they arrested Thoren on suspicion of second-degree murder.
APD said that if you have any information about this shooting, and did not speak to detectives on scene, you are asked to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867.
Aurora homicides double since 2018
The shooting took place across the street from Regis Jesuit High School in the wee hours of the morning.
“I thought this neighborhood was a nice neighborhood. We used to live right around there. For around six or seven years and when I first started, it was just amazing. My family decided to move out about a month ago,” Arapahoe Crossings worker Abdul Altaie said.
Altaie said crime became a problem in nearby neighborhoods.
The number of homicides in Aurora has doubled since 2018. Back then there were 18 murders. There were 44 last year.
Arapahoe Crossings is a popular place and is considered safe by many. Casey Sanger is a designer at a flower shop here and heard the news early this morning.
“I kind of was shocked, but I mean the world is getting crazy, so it happens. Not really nervous or anything,” Sanger said.
Many people FOX31 talked to said this is usually a quiet place and a good place to work. Many were just glad the shooting happened when no one else was around.
“I feel just fine. I have worked on and off for many years and I have always felt very comfortable, that is why it was such a shock,” Lisa Weddel said.
Police did not give additional details about how the truck driver and the woman met.
FOX31’s Vicente Arenas contributed to this report.