Gordon D. Beesley, 51, a 19-year veteran of the Arvada Police Department and the school resource officer at Oberon Middle School, was ambushed and fatally shot on June 21, 2021, while responding to a call about a suspicious incident in Olde Town Arvada. The attack was described as targeted: the shooter observed Beesley, who was in uniform, retrieved a shotgun from his vehicle, approached from behind and opened fire.

The shooter was identified as 59-year-old Ronald Troyke, who left a note expressing an intent to kill Arvada police officers. After shooting Beesley, Troyke fired at police cars, returned to his truck for an AR-15 and was then engaged by a bystander, 40-year-old John Hurley, who shot Troyke. A responding Arvada officer arriving on scene saw Hurley holding the suspect’s rifle and fatally shot Hurley; Troyke was also killed during the exchange. No arrests were made; the officer who shot Hurley was later cleared of criminal charges.

If anyone was in Olde Town Arvada that afternoon and saw events or has information about Troyke’s movements before the shooting, please share what is known.