Aurora, Colorado — The Aurora Police Department has released body camera footage from a recent police encounter that resulted in the death of 37-year-old Rajon Belt-Stubblefield. The incident, which took place on August 30, began with an attempted traffic stop. According to reports, Belt-Stubblefield, a Black man, did not comply with the officer’s commands and allegedly attempted to physically confront the officer.
The footage shows the series of events leading up to the shooting, which occurred near the intersection of 6th Avenue and Billings Street. Officers had attempted to pull over Belt-Stubblefield’s vehicle, which subsequently collided with several other cars. The body camera video reveals the officer approaching Belt-Stubblefield, who was still inside his damaged vehicle. At one point, Belt-Stubblefield exited the car with one hand reportedly concealed, later identified as holding a firearm.
In the struggle that ensued, Belt-Stubblefield is seen wrestling with the officer. Despite appearing unarmed during the altercation, police maintain that he posed a threat, leading to the officer drawing his weapon. The encounter escalated with the officer shooting Belt-Stubblefield twice in the chest and once in the head.
Belt-Stubblefield’s family is now advocating for accountability, stating their intention to pursue legal action against the officer involved, whose identity has not been disclosed. Prominent civil rights attorney Ben Crump is representing the family and emphasized the need for justice at a press conference following the footage release. The family’s emotional testimonies highlighted their lost hopes and dreams, with his widow describing him as a “beautiful person” who cared for everyone.
Zion, Belt-Stubblefield’s son, expressed deep sorrow and disbelief, revealing he was supposed to move in with his father the day after the incident. He witnessed the tragic event unfold, adding another layer of trauma to the already devastating situation.
Crump and other family representatives asserted that the officer’s actions were unjustified, questioning the necessity of the third shot. They argued that the situation was aggravated by the officer striking Belt-Stubblefield when his back was turned, suggesting that non-lethal methods could have been employed instead. The family asserts that the officer acted recklessly and has called for a full release of the officer’s history related to use of force.
In response to the incident, the police department stated that the officer believed his life was in danger after Belt-Stubblefield exited the vehicle allegedly holding a weapon and instructed his son to pick it up. However, the video has led the family to assert that this narrative does not align with the facts, viewing the shooting as an unwarranted act of violence.
Legal representatives for Belt-Stubblefield’s family are currently allowing law enforcement officials to conduct their investigation while remaining open to potential civil action against the city should they feel that justice has not been served. They emphasize the need for transparency, which includes revealing the officer’s identity and the complete internal affairs file related to previous uses of force.
As the investigation continues, tensions surrounding police accountability and the use of deadly force by law enforcement remain in the spotlight, drawing widespread attention and calling into question longstanding practices within the Aurora Police Department.