Space Force sergeant fatally shot teen in ‘vigilante violence,' CO officials say
Orest Schur, 29, received a 54-year prison sentence after a jury in June found him guilty of second-degree murder and attempted murder in the 2023 shooting, the 17th Judicial District Attorney's Office said in an Aug. 15 news release.
Space Force did not immediately return McClatchy News' request for comment Aug. 19.
Attorney information for Schur was not immediately available.
'This was vigilante violence at its worst and now a young man is dead,' District Attorney Brian Mason said in the release. 'The defendant took the law into his own hands, chasing down a fleeing vehicle and opening fire on its occupants. A 14-year-old boy will now never grow up because of the defendant's actions.'
Schur, a technical sergeant with Space Force in Aurora, was awakened by the blaring of his car alarm at about 11 p.m. July 5, 2023, prosecutors said.
Thinking someone was trying to steal his Hyundai Elantra, prosecutors said 'Schur armed himself with a pistol and began driving around the block in the Elantra.'
As Schur circled the neighborhood, he spotted a car he thought to be 'involved in the attempted theft,' prosecutors said.
Schur did not call police but instead chased the car, firing multiple rounds at its rear, prosecutors said.
Aurora police later found the car the teenagers had been driving, crashed into a home's backyard fence, prosecutors said.
Officers found the car had been damaged by gunfire in multiple spots, including the trunk roof and rear windshield, and 'investigators determined that one bullet had passed through the driver's seat and into the driver's back,' prosecutors said.
After the crash, the two teens ran from the car, as Schur continued shooting toward them, prosecutors said.
The 14-year-old passenger was hit by gunfire in his back and head as he ran, prosecutors said, adding that he was found unconscious not too far away and later died at a hospital.
Though the 13-year-old driver was shot in his back, he was able to reach a family member's home, was taken to a hospital and survived his injuries, prosecutors said.
Schur said his actions were in self-defense in response to someone firing at him, prosecutors said.
However, 'an extensive investigation found no evidence' that anyone, aside from Schur, carried or fired a gun, prosecutors said.
Forensic testing showed Schur fired 11 rounds in total, prosecutors said.
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Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
Ex-Space Force Analyst Suspected Teens of Stealing His Wife's Car, and Killed 1 — Now He's Sentenced to 54 Years
Orest Schur has been sentenced for second-degree murder and second-degree attempted murder following his June 2025 conviction NEED TO KNOW Former U.S. Space Force signals intelligence analyst Orest Schur was sentenced to 54 years in prison for second-degree murder and second-degree attempted murder In July 2023, the Afghanistan veteran shot at the 13-year-old and 14-year-old boys after they allegedly attempted to steal his wife's car Schur fired 11 shots at the two teens, fatally shooting one of them, Xavier Kirk, 14 Orest Schur, a former U.S. Space Force signals intelligence analyst, has been sentenced to more than five decades in prison after shooting two suspected teen car thieves and killing one of them, per a news release from District Attorney Brian Mason. On Friday, Aug. 15, Judge Caryn Datz sentenced Schur, 29, to 54 years in prison after he was convicted of second-degree murder and second-degree attempted murder in June 2025. He will serve 36 years behind bars for the murder charge and 18 years for the attempted murder, which will be served consecutively. Schur, an Afghanistan veteran, could have faced a maximum of 80 years in prison or a minimum of 26. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. In July 2023, in Aurora, Colo., Schur, who at the time was a U.S. Space Force technical sergeant, chased the 13-year-old and 14-year-old boys down after he allegedly caught them attempting to steal his wife's car. As the unarmed teens drove away and ultimately crashed the car, Schur fired 11 shots at them, per the forensic testing results — some of which hit 14-year-old Xavier Kirk in the back and head. He was rushed to the hospital, where he died. The 13-year-old, whose identity has not been publicly revealed, was shot in the back but was able to get to a relative's home for help. The teen was taken to the hospital, and he survived his injuries. Ahead of Schur's sentencing, he addressed the court and apologized for his actions. "I am sorry for the events that occurred that night, for the pain, for the grief and trauma that have followed and for the impact that my case had on so many lives,' per CBS News. At Schur's sentencing, the boys' family members condemned the boys' actions, but said they did not deserve to die. "You know, kids make mistakes, and so, I always teach my kids in my family, like my nephews and nieces, about consequences and repercussions,' one family member said, per CBS News. 'We're not trying to excuse any wrongdoing of Xavier, or wrong they were involved in. The part that's messed up is Orest Shur's car was never stolen." Additionally, prosecutors read the surviving teen's statement in court. "An adult chose to use deadly force against two unarmed teenagers. That is not justice, that is not safety, that is not accountability,' the statement read, per CBS News. 'I survived, but I am not the same. My friend didn't survive at all. And no matter what we did that night, I didn't deserve to be shot, and Xavier didn't deserve to die." District Attorney Mason also issued a statement, calling Schur's actions 'vigilante violence at its worst.' 'Now a young man is dead,' the statement read. 'The defendant took the law into his own hands, chasing down a fleeing vehicle and opening fire on its occupants. A 14-year-old boy will now never grow up because of the defendant's actions. I'm grateful to the Aurora Police Department for their investigation and to my team at the DA's Office for securing justice in this case.' Read the original article on People
Miami Herald
9 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Space Force sergeant fatally shot teen in ‘vigilante violence,' CO officials say
A former U.S. Space Force sergeant fatally shot a 14-year-old and injured a 13-year-old in an act of 'vigilante violence,' Colorado prosecutors say. Orest Schur, 29, received a 54-year prison sentence after a jury in June found him guilty of second-degree murder and attempted murder in the 2023 shooting, the 17th Judicial District Attorney's Office said in an Aug. 15 news release. Space Force did not immediately return McClatchy News' request for comment Aug. 19. Attorney information for Schur was not immediately available. 'This was vigilante violence at its worst and now a young man is dead,' District Attorney Brian Mason said in the release. 'The defendant took the law into his own hands, chasing down a fleeing vehicle and opening fire on its occupants. A 14-year-old boy will now never grow up because of the defendant's actions.' Schur, a technical sergeant with Space Force in Aurora, was awakened by the blaring of his car alarm at about 11 p.m. July 5, 2023, prosecutors said. Thinking someone was trying to steal his Hyundai Elantra, prosecutors said 'Schur armed himself with a pistol and began driving around the block in the Elantra.' As Schur circled the neighborhood, he spotted a car he thought to be 'involved in the attempted theft,' prosecutors said. Schur did not call police but instead chased the car, firing multiple rounds at its rear, prosecutors said. Aurora police later found the car the teenagers had been driving, crashed into a home's backyard fence, prosecutors said. Officers found the car had been damaged by gunfire in multiple spots, including the trunk roof and rear windshield, and 'investigators determined that one bullet had passed through the driver's seat and into the driver's back,' prosecutors said. After the crash, the two teens ran from the car, as Schur continued shooting toward them, prosecutors said. The 14-year-old passenger was hit by gunfire in his back and head as he ran, prosecutors said, adding that he was found unconscious not too far away and later died at a hospital. Though the 13-year-old driver was shot in his back, he was able to reach a family member's home, was taken to a hospital and survived his injuries, prosecutors said. Schur said his actions were in self-defense in response to someone firing at him, prosecutors said. However, 'an extensive investigation found no evidence' that anyone, aside from Schur, carried or fired a gun, prosecutors said. Forensic testing showed Schur fired 11 rounds in total, prosecutors said.
CBS News
4 days ago
- CBS News
Former Space Force analyst who shot and killed Colorado teen sentenced to 54 years in prison
A former U.S. Space Force signals intelligence analyst was sentenced to decades behind bars in Colorado on Friday for shooting two suspected teen car thieves and killing one of them. An Adams County judge sentenced Orest Schur, of Aurora, to 54 years in prison following his conviction in June. Schur was a sergeant in the Army before he transferred to work at Buckley Space Force Base until his end of service a year ago. In July 2023, Schur chased the 13 and 14 year old down in the 19500 block of East 58th Circle after allegedly catching them trying to take his wife's car. Investigators say Schur started shooting at them and wounded the 13 year old with a gunshot wound to the back. He ultimately killed 14-year-old Xavier Kirk. Neither of the boys were armed, and the investigation found 11 shots were fired even as the boys ran away. Prosecutors read a statement in Friday afternoon's court hearing written by the teen who survived. It said "An adult chose to use deadly force against two unarmed teenagers. That is not justice, that is not safety, that is not accountability. I survived but I am not the same. My friend didn't survive at all. And no matter what we did that night I didn't deserve to be shot and Xavier didn't deserve to die." Schur will serve 36 years in prison for one count of second degree murder. For the count of attempted murder in the second degree he will serve 18 years. The maximum overall sentence he could have received was 80 years in prison. The minimum was 26.
