Former CO Federal Agent Purple Heart Recipient ID’d As Man Fatally Shot By Aurora Police By Mistake

AURORA, CO. (THECOUNT) — The man who was fatally shot by police after he allegedly shot a man breaking into his own home was a Bronze Star, Army Commendation medal and a Purple heart recipient, according to family members.

Richard “Gary” Black Jr., has been identified by a family attorney as the veteran of the Vietnam War shot and killed by Aurora police by mistake early Monday.

Black was a formal federal agent and a Purple Heart recipient, the attorney said.

Around 1:30 a.m. Monday, Aurora police responded to a report that a man had broken into a home near E. Montview Boulevard and Iola Street. Arriving officers heard gunshots and ran into Black, who lived in the home and was armed. An officer shot him and he died at a local hospital. Officers found a juvenile injured inside the home and a man shot dead on the floor of a bathroom. The child was taken to the hospital for serious, but not life-threatening injuries that were caused by the intruder, officials said. source

Authorities said Monday that Black, who was a resident of the home, is believed to have fatally shot the man who broke into the home.

Reports said that the suspect broke into the home naked and attacked Black’s 11-year-old grandson by trying to drown the boy in a bathtub. Black fought the man off and eventually killed him.

Black received multiple medals for outstanding service while serving in Vietnam with the 1st Infantry Division.

Police ask that anyone who witnessed the shooting to call 911.