Coroner ID's man killed in hostage incident

Daniel Garcia

AURORA | The Arapahoe County coroner’s office has identified a man killed during a hostage standoff Tuesday as Daniel Garcia, 25. 

An autopsy performed Wednesday showed Garcia died from multiple gunshot wounds, the coroner’s office said. 

According to state records, Garcia has been arrested several times before and was listed as a fugitive from the state prison system at the time of his death. A spokeswoman for the Colorado Department of Corrections said Wednesday that Garcia was a fugitive who had walked away from a halfway house, though it wasn't immediately clear when he walked away. 

In addition to Garcia, an Aurora police sergeant and a hostage were wounded by gunfire Tuesday but police said they are expected to survive. 

The incident started around 11 p.m. Monday night when Aurora police received a call about a man with a gun threatening a woman at a motel in the 14200 block of East Sixth Avenue, according to a statement from Aurora police.

As officers responded to the motel they received word that the people involved had driven to the nearby Cherry Grove apartment complex near East First Avenue and Sable Boulevard.

Police found the vehicle and received word that a gunman was inside holding two passengers against their will.

Officers surrounded the vehicle and called out the Aurora police SWAT Team to assist but before SWAT could move in, officers heard gunfire from the vehicle.

Police approached the car after the shot was fired and while they tried to rescue the hostages, several more shots were fired, striking the gunman, one of the hostages and an Aurora police sergeant.

All three were taken to area hospitals where the gunman died.

According to Colorado Bureau of Investigation records, Garcia has been arrested several times since 2004 on charges including domestic violence, assault and burglary. 

In July 2006 he was sentenced to six years in prison on a burglary charge and three years on a felony menacing charges. Those charges stemmed from an August 2005 incident in Aurora when Garcia was arrested on several charges, including trespassing, obstructing police and assault, charges that were later dropped.  

He was arrested again in January 2009 on a felony escape charge from Arapahoe County and sentenced the following month to an addition year in prison on the escape charge. 

Police said they expect to release more information about Tuesday’s shooting later today.