(April 21, 2026) – An Aurora Police Department officer critically injured earlier this month is still under hospital care and receiving rehabilitation for his injuries.
Nearly two weeks ago, Officer Mark Moore sustained life-threatening stab wounds to his head while responding to a call for service involving a man experiencing a mental health crisis. Officer Moore discharged his firearm during the incident, fatally wounding the 23-year-old Aurora man.
About 3:15 p.m. Thursday, April 9, Aurora patrol officers responded to an apartment complex in the 14000 block of East Stanford Circle following a 911 call from Aurora Mental Health clinicians, who stated a 23-year-old man – later identified as Amare Garlington – was experiencing a mental health crisis and threatening to harm himself and others in the home. Patrol officers and members of the department’s Crisis Response Team arrived at 3:37 p.m.
The Aurora Police Department’s Crisis Response Team pairs a sworn officer and a mental health clinician who are trained to respond to situations involving people experiencing a mental health crisis.
Along with the Crisis Response Team, additional officers arrived on scene and coordinated a plan that involved multiple avenues of verbal communication to try and de-escalate. Officers did equip themselves with less-lethal tools, including TASERs and 40mm launchers equipped with foam projectiles, in the event they were needed. Officer Moore and his K9 partner, Cyrus, arrived to serve as part of a containment team.
After nearly 20 minutes of communicating with Garlington to resolve the situation peacefully, Garlington exited the apartment and ran at full speed with a large butcher knife toward the officers on scene. Due to the life-threatening situation, Officer Moore released his K9, which was subsequently stabbed by Garlington.
After the K9 retreated due to its injuries, Garlington attacked Officer Moore with the butcher knife, striking him in the head, while other officers deployed less-lethal tools without effect. Officer Moore, fearing for his life, fired several rounds striking Garlington, at which point both collapsed on the ground.
“This is a terrible and tragic situation for everyone involved, including our officer, his family, our department and this community, as well as the young man who lost his life and his family,” Chief Chamberlain said. “What we are facing in Colorado and across the nation is not a growing concern, but a full-scale mental health crisis. If we want different outcomes, we need sustainable mental health infrastructure and long-term care, not just short-term contact.
“Society has pushed law enforcement to become a default, catch-all when other systems fall short or are nonexistent in delivering critical long-term care. In response, our profession has adapted through enhanced training, evolving tactics, less-lethal tools and strong partnerships, including programs like our Crisis Response Team.”
All Aurora police recruits and officers receive ongoing communication, assessment, tactics and de-escalation training. Additionally, officers assigned to the Crisis Response Team regularly complete classes, attend conferences and participate in specialized ongoing training specific to responding to calls involving a person in crisis.
Officer Moore was first hired by the city of Aurora in 2002. He joined the Aurora Police Department as a new hire in November 2012 and has been assigned to the K9 Unit since March 2019.
“Mark is a dedicated and dependable officer who has served the Aurora community with distinction for more than a decade,” said Aurora Police Chief Todd Chamberlain. “While his road to recovery remains uncertain, we are grateful he has made some progress. We continue to think of Mark and his family during this time, and we look forward to welcoming him back to the department.”
K9 Cyrus – a recent cancer survivor – received emergency veterinary treatment that night for his stab wound and is expected to make a full recovery.
The investigation into the officer-involved shooting is being led by the 18th Judicial District Critical Incident Response Team. The Aurora Police Department is conducting a parallel administrative review of the entire incident. Officer Moore has not yet been able to be interviewed by investigators due to the severity of his injuries and ongoing medical treatment.
“Our residents deserve transparency, and we remain committed to providing a neutral, fact-based account of the April 9 incident,” Chief Chamberlain said. “At the same time, protecting the integrity of the ongoing investigations is paramount. The body camera footage will be released through our standard process as soon as Mark is well enough to speak with investigators and provide his statement.”
Joe Moylan
Public Information Officer
720.432.5095
AP26-74044
Aurora Police Involved in Fatal Critical Incident, Officer Injured
(April 9, 2026) – The Aurora Police Department was involved in a fatal officer-involved shooting, and an officer was injured while responding to a mental health call in south Aurora.
About 3:15 p.m., Aurora police patrol officers responded to an apartment complex in the 14000 block of East Stanford Circle for a report of a 23-year-old man experiencing a mental health crisis who was threatening to harm himself and others in the home. Patrol officers and members of the department’s Crisis Response Team arrived at 3:37 p.m.
Aurora police’s Crisis Response Team pairs a sworn officer with a mental health clinician who are trained to respond to situations involving people experiencing a mental health crisis. In addition to the Crisis Response Team, multiple officers on scene were equipped with less lethal tools including a K9 officer and its handler, TASER and a 40mm launcher equipped with foam projectiles.
Officers and mental health clinicians made numerous attempts to contact the man by phone, which were initially successful. The man later stopped talking to officers, who then attempted to maintain contact with him verbally through an apartment window. About 16 minutes after officers arrived at the complex, the man exited the apartment and attacked the K9 handler with a knife.
A brief struggle took place, during which the K9 handler was stabbed multiple times in the head by the suspect. The K9 also sustained injuries during the attack. During the struggle, the K9 handler fired multiple shots, striking the suspect. Officers on scene also deployed their TASERs and the 40mm launcher with no effect on the suspect.
Following the shooting, officers and Aurora Fire Rescue personnel immediately began providing life-saving actions to both the injured officer and the suspect. The officer was rushed to a local hospital by ambulance. As of Thursday night, the officer was receiving medical treatment and is expected to survive. The K9 also is expected to recover from its injuries.
The suspect was rushed by ambulance to a local hospital, where he later died from his injuries. He will be identified by the Arapahoe County Coroner’s Office.
The injured officer joined the Aurora Police Department in 2002. He has been assigned to the K9 Unit since 2012.
The 18th Judicial Critical Incident Response Team responded to the scene and is leading the investigation into the officer-involved shooting. The Aurora Police Department is conducting a parallel administrative review of the incident.
The investigations are active and ongoing. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720.913.STOP (7867). Tipsters can remain anonymous and could be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000.
Joe Moylan
Public Information Officer
720.432.5095
AP26-74044