On September 18, 2025, a 17-year-old boy in Aurora, Colorado, called 911 threatening to open fire at a gas station. When police arrived, they used non-lethal rounds that reportedly "had no effect," and then fatally shot him with live ammunition. No weapon was ever found.

That teenager is now dead. He was someone's son, possibly in crisis, and he never fired a shot.

We recognize that police officers face dangerous and unpredictable situations. But this tragedy shows that something is deeply broken in how we respond to people—especially young people—who are in distress. When the only tools officers have are limited to force and firearms, the outcomes are often tragic for everyone involved.

This isn’t about choosing sides. It’s about building a system that works better for both the public and the police. We’re calling on the Aurora City Council and the Colorado State Legislature to:

• Invest in co-responder models that pair trained mental health professionals with police during high-risk calls.
• Expand access to non-lethal tools and require enhanced training for officers on de-escalation, especially involving youth.
• Mandate that every officer undergo advanced crisis intervention training focused on teenage and adolescent behavior.

No officer should be left with only deadly options. No family should lose a child before anyone even checks if they’re armed. And no community should be asked to accept these tragedies as normal.

The officer involved has been placed on leave, and an investigation is underway. But policy change can’t wait for a verdict. We must act now to prevent more deaths like this one.

If you believe in better outcomes—for officers, families, and youth—sign this petition today and help push Aurora and Colorado toward a smarter, safer public safety model.