Finger pushing
weather icon 59°F


Arvada gunman left message of hate, ballistics report coming Thursday

The gunman who died in a Monday afternoon shootout along with Arvada Police Officer Gordon Beesley and a “Samaritan” left behind a four-page note, explaining his hatred for police and his intent to harm Arvada cops in particular.

Arvada Police spokesman David Snelling confirmed the document’s existence to The Denver Gazette, but the department hasn’t released its exact contents.

“We are aware of one document. It was given to us as part of a law enforcement safety concern,” Snelling said, confirming the document specifically targeted Arvada Police.

Beesley and a bystander, John Hurley, died in the shooting in Olde Town Arvada before Troyke died of gunshot wounds. Officials haven’t said who shot Troyke or Hurley.

Two officials, who asked not to be named since the information hadn’t been released to the public, told The Denver Gazette the note was found by investigators when they searched 59-year-old Ronald Troyke’s apartment in Arvada Monday night. They said the note confirmed Beesley was targeted because of his police uniform.

Arvada Police Chief Link Strate on Monday told reporters the shooter, “was a person who expressed hatred of police officers.”

He called Beesley’s death a “deliberate act of violence.”

“Communities need to know and understand what they ask of their police officers,” Strate said

Jeremy Wiest, who witnessed the shooting, said Troyke, wearing black clothing and a tactical vest, was walking calmly after Beesley was shot.

“It seemed premeditated and planned out to me,” Wiest said.

Tuesday, workers repaired the front door at Troyke’s apartment after officers in tactical gear broke it down.

“He was a weird neighbor,” said Maicayla Sawaya of Troyke, who other neighbors say was rarely seen outside. “I didn’t even know anyone lived in that apartment. He never took his trash out and I never saw him bring in groceries.”

Another neighbor, who wished not to be identified, told the Gazette that that Troyke often wore all black and drove a black truck.

Investigators haven’t revealed why Troyke would target police. Colorado Bureau of Investigation records showed one prior arrest for Troyke from 1992 in Gilpin County on a misdemeanor assault charge. There was no record of a conviction.

In the past 30 years, Troyke had financial problems. Federal bankruptcy court records show he twice filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in 1992 and 2013. Jefferson County court records show he was evicted in 1995 and was sued in 1996 over a debt alleged by a property management company.

Jefferson County Sheriff Jeff Schrader says he worries that copycats could emulate the killing.

“In any of these instances, we’re going to look to know about deadly assaultive behavior and the influences they have on others to do the same thing,” he said.

Scenes from outside the Arvada Police Department a day after a shooting left three people dead, including a police officer. (Katie Klann)
Scenes from outside the Arvada Police Department a day after a shooting left three people dead, including a police officer. (Katie Klann)
Dozens of police vehicles line up to take part in a procession held in the aftermath of a shooting in Olde Town Arvada that took the life of a police officer on Monday, June 21, 2021 in Arvada, Colo. Authorities say a gunman is believed to have shot and killed an officer and another person in a shopping district in a Denver suburb before being fatally shot by police. Police say an officer responded to a call about a suspicious incident Monday near the library in the city of Arvada, and about 15 minutes later, a 911 call came in about shots fired and the officer hit. (Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post via AP) (Helen H. Richardson)
Dozens of police vehicles line up to take part in a procession held in the aftermath of a shooting in Olde Town Arvada that took the life of a police officer on Monday, June 21, 2021 in Arvada, Colo. Authorities say a gunman is believed to have shot and killed an officer and another person in a shopping district in a Denver suburb before being fatally shot by police. Police say an officer responded to a call about a suspicious incident Monday near the library in the city of Arvada, and about 15 minutes later, a 911 call came in about shots fired and the officer hit. (Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post via AP) (Helen H. Richardson)
Community members listen during a community vigil for fallen Officer Gordon Beesley on Tuesday, June 22, 2021 at Peace Lutheran Church in Arvada, Colo. (Katie Klann/The Denver Gazette) (Katie Klann The Gazette)
Community members listen during a community vigil for fallen Officer Gordon Beesley on Tuesday, June 22, 2021 at Peace Lutheran Church in Arvada, Colo. (Katie Klann/The Denver Gazette) (Katie Klann The Gazette)
Community members help each other light candles during a community vigil for fallen Officer Gordon Beesley on Tuesday, June 22, 2021 at Peace Lutheran Church in Arvada, Colo. (Katie Klann/The Denver Gazette) (Katie Klann The Gazette)
Community members help each other light candles during a community vigil for fallen Officer Gordon Beesley on Tuesday, June 22, 2021 at Peace Lutheran Church in Arvada, Colo. (Katie Klann/The Denver Gazette) (Katie Klann The Gazette)
Arvada veteran police officer Gordon Beesley portrait on display next to his patrol car at the station covered in flowers and flags. Beesley was killed in a shooting in Olde Town Arvada. The suspect was also shot and killed. (The Colorado Sun via the Associated Press)
Arvada veteran police officer Gordon Beesley portrait on display next to his patrol car at the station covered in flowers and flags. Beesley was killed in a shooting in Olde Town Arvada. The suspect was also shot and killed. (The Colorado Sun via the Associated Press)
JUNE 22, 2021 - Staff members from Oberon Middle School walk to the police station with their signs to pay their respects to fallen officer Gordon Beesley. A shooting at the fountain in Old Town Arvada left three people dead, including Arvada veteran police officer Gordon Beesley, another person was also killed after being shot by the gunman and the suspect was also shot and killed. The staff from Oberon Middle School marched to the police station where the officers patrol car is on display covered with flowers and several flags. (Photo by John Leyba) (John Leyba)
JUNE 22, 2021 – Staff members from Oberon Middle School walk to the police station with their signs to pay their respects to fallen officer Gordon Beesley. A shooting at the fountain in Old Town Arvada left three people dead, including Arvada veteran police officer Gordon Beesley, another person was also killed after being shot by the gunman and the suspect was also shot and killed. The staff from Oberon Middle School marched to the police station where the officers patrol car is on display covered with flowers and several flags. (Photo by John Leyba) (John Leyba)
Scenes from outside the Arvada Police Department a day after a shooting left three people dead, including a police officer. (Katie Klann)
Scenes from outside the Arvada Police Department a day after a shooting left three people dead, including a police officer. (Katie Klann)
People line the street with flags during a procession in honor of an officer who was fatally shot in Arvada, Colo., Monday, June 21, 2021. A gunfight between two men and police officers at a shopping district in a Denver suburb left an officer and one of the suspects dead, authorities said Monday. (AP Photo/Colleen Slevin) (Colleen Slevin)
People line the street with flags during a procession in honor of an officer who was fatally shot in Arvada, Colo., Monday, June 21, 2021. A gunfight between two men and police officers at a shopping district in a Denver suburb left an officer and one of the suspects dead, authorities said Monday. (AP Photo/Colleen Slevin) (Colleen Slevin)
Tags


Welcome Back.

Streak: 9 days i

Stories you've missed since your last login:

Stories you've saved for later:

Recommended stories based on your interests:

Edit my interests