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Aurora Police arrest man suspected of shooting wife to death

Phil Jay Atchue 05241965.jpg

Aurora Police Department officers arrested a man who admitted shooting his common-law wife.

Around 11:15 p.m. Sunday, the Aurora Police Department said they received a call from a man claiming that he had fatally shot his common law wife in their apartment in the 900 block of South Ivory Circle, according to a news release.

When patrol officers responded to the bus stop on Chambers road, they contacted the man. It was a short distance from where the couple lived.

Officers learned the shooting occurred about 9:30 a.m. Saturday, or approximately 38 hours before the suspect called 911.

Inside the man’s apartment, officers located a firearm and found a 61-year-old woman dead from apparent gunshot wounds.

Phil Atchue, 60, of Aurora, was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder, according to APD.

Formal charges will be filed by the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.

The Arapahoe County Coroner’s Office will identify the victim pending notification of family and an autopsy.

The investigation remains ongoing.

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