Arvada Mourns Officer and Samaritan Slain in Shootout

Colorado once again faces the horrific reality of American gun violence this week, as Arvada mourns a police officer and local samaritan killed in an Old Town shootout.

Officer Gordon Beesley, a 19-year veteran of the Arvada police force, was killed Monday in a reportedly deliberate attack against the city’s law enforcement. “[He] was targeted because he was wearing an Arvada police uniform and a badge,” Police Chief Link Strate said at a news conference Tuesday. “Officer Beesley was ambushed by someone who expressed hatred of police officers.”

It is still unclear at this time how the motivations of the gunman, who died at the scene, are known.

Beesley, who typically worked as a school resource officer at Oberon Middle School, was on patrol while school was out for the summer. He responded to a call at 1:15 p.m. of a disturbance near the library, and only 15 minutes later, calls poured into 911 with reports of a shooting in the area.

As news came in about the tragedy, the Arvada community came together, gathering around a procession of dozens of police cars that escorted Officer Beesley from the scene to the coroner’s office later that evening. The crowd of 100 waved American flags as the hearse passed by.

Arvada Police Officer Gordon Beesley – End Of Watch 6/21/2021 pic.twitter.com/U9h5A1FJBa

— Arvada Police (@ArvadaPolice) June 22, 2021

John Hurley, named as a “samaritan” in early police reports, is also being revered as a hero after his passing. Hurley reportedly leapt into action when the first shots rang out, drawing his own weapon, and engaging the gunman while ushering others to safety. “He is a true hero and likely disrupted what could have been a larger loss of life,” Chief Strate says.

A GoFundMe account was set up by Hurley’s good friend and has already raise $10,000 for the grieving family. “Johnny lived simply and had meager possessions,” the GoFundMe says. “He loved the outdoors, had a passion for food and cooking, and loved spending time with family.”

The tragic loss of life is the third major Colorado shooting in just three months. In March, the Boulder King Soopers’ massacre claimed 10 lives, including that of Police Officer Eric Talley, and in May, a Colorado Springs gunman killed six people before taking his own life. Colorado Governor Jared Polis had signed gun bills in response to the prior tragedies just two days before the Arvada attack.

For those wishing to make donations, the only official donation site for the fallen officer is: https://t.co/LNdJKfKMb9

— Arvada Police (@ArvadaPolice) June 21, 2021