Settlement Reached with City in Case of Colorado Man Fatally Shot by Police Following His Heroic Intervention

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A legal settlement amounting to $2.8 million has been achieved between a Colorado municipality and the mother of a man who was fatally shot by local law enforcement in 2021, subsequent to his valorous efforts to neutralize a gunman attacking another police officer. The settlement was publicly disclosed by a law firm on Thursday.

The legal action was initiated by Kathleen Boleyn in June 2022, approximately one year after the shootings took place in Olde Town Arvada’s central square. Olde Town Arvada is a historic retail and leisure district located roughly 7 miles (or 10 kilometers) to the northwest of central Denver.

According to Boleyn, her son, Johnny Hurley, courageously ran toward the threat and neutralized the assailant, Ronald Troyke, who had just killed Officer Gordon Beesley. Investigations later revealed that Troyke, who also lost his life due to Hurley’s intervention, was determined to kill as many officers as possible on that fateful day.

The lawsuit articulated that at the time he was shot, Hurley was in a non-threatening posture, his rifle aimed downward. A bystander corroborated that Hurley was in the process of removing the magazine from a rifle he had confiscated from Troyke.

An inquiry led by the District Attorney exonerated Officer Kraig Brownlow, the individual responsible for shooting Hurley. The DA’s report stated that Brownlow perceived Hurley as potentially reloading or repairing the rifle. District Attorney Alexis King mentioned that Brownlow mistook Hurley for an additional gunman and had only a brief moment to avert further harm.

The Rathod Mohamedbhai law firm noted in a public statement, “Mr. Hurley’s courageous intervention undoubtedly saved lives that day. His gallantry and self-sacrifice will always be remembered. Acknowledging the tragic nature of the situation for all parties involved, a settlement has been mutually agreed upon.”

Brownlow was among three officers who were in a proximate police substation and heard the gunfire, spotting Troyke. None of these officers, including Brownlow, were aware that Officer Beesley, a revered school resource officer with 19 years of service, had been killed, nor did they know of Hurley’s actions, according to the District Attorney’s report.

The lawsuit alleged that Brownlow, along with the other two officers, opted for self-preservation at the expense of civilian protection while they remained in the substation. Only after spotting Hurley holding Troyke’s weapon did Brownlow exit the building and shoot Hurley from behind, without issuing a prior warning.

The lawsuit further stated, “This decision was made despite the absence of any reasonable grounds for an officer to perceive Mr. Hurley as a threat. The demise of Mr. Hurley was not an unfortunate result of a hurried judgment error, but rather a calculated and unlawful employment of lethal force.”

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Legal Settlement

More about Legal Settlement

• Original Lawsuit Announcement
• District Attorney’s Investigation Report
• Statement from Rathod Mohamedbhai Law Firm
• Background on Officer Gordon Beesley
• Location of Olde Town Arvada
• Police Procedures and Protocols