A technical sergeant in the Space Force stationed in Colorado is facing serious charges, including murder, after allegedly shooting at two teenagers he suspected of trying to steal his car.
The incident occurred on July 5 in the North Aurora neighborhood, where car theft has been a rising problem.
Orest Schur, a 27-year-old who served two tours in Afghanistan with the Army, and his wife were awoken by a car alarm in the middle of the night. They witnessed two suspects dressed in black attempting to steal Mrs. Schur's Hyundai Elantra. Mrs. Schur called 911 while her husband went to investigate further.
During the call to dispatch, Mrs. Schur reported hearing the sound of a speeding vehicle and three gunshots that appeared to come from a nearby street. Meanwhile, Schur confronted the suspects outside, causing them to flee in another stolen vehicle. Schur pursued them in the Elantra until the suspects crashed the stolen Kia Rio in an attempt to escape.
During this time, 911 dispatch received another call from an unidentified person claiming to be chasing car thieves. The caller alleged that the thieves had fired at him during the chase and that he had shot back at them. Police believe this caller was Schur.
When officers arrived at the scene, they found the crashed Rio but no occupants. A search of the area led them to discover 14-year-old Xavier Daniel Kirk, who had suffered a gunshot wound to the back and head. He was transported to a nearby hospital but succumbed to his injuries. Another 13-year-old boy was also wounded by a single bullet and sought treatment at a local hospital. He is expected to survive and claimed to have been in the area minding his own business when he was shot, possibly mistaken for someone else.
Police found evidence that the Kia Rio had been struck by gunfire, with bullet holes in various parts of the vehicle. Shell casings consistent with the 9mm Glock 19 recovered from Schur's residence were found near the crashed Rio and at a nearby intersection. No other weapons were found at the scene, and Schur's vehicle showed no signs of being fired upon.
Mrs. Schur stated that her husband was deeply affected by the incident and felt nauseous upon returning home. While she acknowledged that he may have experienced depression related to his military service, she did not believe he had been diagnosed with PTSD or any other related condition.
Orest Schur has been charged with first-degree murder and first-degree attempted murder. He is currently in custody at the Adams County jail on a $500,000 bond. The Space Force issued a statement acknowledging Schur's arrest and stating that a joint investigation is ongoing. The military's decision on prosecution or discharge will be made after the investigation is completed.
Aurora police advised individuals who believe they are targets of car thieves not to take matters into their own hands. They emphasized the importance of personal safety and urged people to contact law enforcement rather than attempting to apprehend suspects or recover stolen property.
Ben Diaz, a neighbor of the Schurs, had his Honda stolen just days before the incident. He called the police for assistance but claimed they were unresponsive, advising him to contact his insurance company instead. Diaz recognized the potential consequences of taking matters into his own hands, stating that he would have ended up in jail if he had confronted the thieves himself.
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