Man found dead was murdered, police say

AURORA | A man found dead Wednesday in a front yard near East Colfax Avenue and Havana Street was murdered, police said. 

Timothy Blackburn, 53, was found dead around 5 p.m. Wednesday in front of a home in the 10300 block of East 16th Avenue, a block northwest of Colfax and Havana. 

When police responded to the area on a report of a man laying in a yard, they found Blackburn suffering injuries. He was taken to an area hospital where he was later pronounced dead. 

Nobody has been arrested in connection with Blackburn's death. 

Police released a mug shot of Blackburn on wednesday in hopes that someone would recognize him and contact police. 

Blackburn went by the nicknames "Bird" and "Birdman," police said. 

Click below for the release from APD. 

NATURE:  Homicide Investigation

Aurora, Colo. –  On March 16, 2011, shortly after 5:00 p.m. officers responded to a call of a male laying in the yard of a house located in the 10300 block of E 16^th Ave.

Officers arrived and discovered the male with apparent injuries.  Rescue responded and transported the male to a local hospital where he succumbed to his injuries.  The victim is being identified as 53-year-old Timothy Blackburn.  He was known to his friends as “Bird” or “Birdman.”

Officers responded to the hospital, secured the crime scene, contacted witnesses, and requested assistance from investigators.

Major Crimes Unit (MCU) detectives and personnel with the Crime Scene Investigation Unit (CSI) responded to the scene of the incident and the hospital. A search of the scene was conducted for possible evidence.

There have been no arrests in this case.  Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact MCU Detective Hershel Stowell at (303)739-6079 or Crime Stoppers at (720) 913-STOP (7867).  The Aurora Police Reward Fund in conjunction with Crime Stoppers is offering up to $4,000 for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for this homicide.