Update:  January 24, 2025

The Mesa County Sheriff’s Office is releasing the following information on behalf of the 21st Judicial District Critical Incident Response Team.

The Mesa County Coroner's Office has completed its examination regarding the death on January 19, 2025, that prompted the activation of the Critical Incident Team (CIRT). The person has been identified as 46-year-old Aaron Blount of Grand Junction. The cause of death, as determined by the Coroner's Office, has been determined to be a gunshot wound to the torso.

The investigation into this incident continues.  The CIRT will release any other information as appropriate.

Previous:  January 20, 2025

The Mesa County Sheriff’s Office is releasing the following information on behalf of the 21st Judicial District Critical Incident Response Team. (CIRT)

On Sunday, January 19, 2025, at 7:11 p.m., the Grand Junction Police Department was dispatched to the report of an assault that had occurred after the injured party was transported to the ER by a neighbor.  Staff at a local emergency room called police to report they had an injured party in their ER who had been assaulted and sustained life-threatening injuries.  Officers with the Grand Junction Police Department responded to an address located in the 400 block of 28 Road in Grand Junction to investigate the assault. Upon attempting to make contact, the suspect refused to exit the residence and fired a weapon at the officers multiple times.  One officer with the Grand Junction Police Department returned fire.

SWAT operators with the Grand Junction Police Department and the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene.  Over the course of several hours, multiple attempts were made to contact the suspect, with no response. SWAT operators made entry into the residence, where they discovered the suspect deceased.

This incident remains under investigation by the CIRT as they continue to conduct interviews of witnesses and process evidence over the next several days.  Additional details will be released as appropriate, with sensitivity to the ongoing investigation.

As is standard protocol with any officer-involved shooting, the officer involved is currently on paid administrative leave.  The Grand Junction Police Department will be responsible for releasing the names of the officers involved.   

The Mesa County Coroner’s Office will be responsible for releasing the identity and cause and manner of death.

All officer-involved shootings in Mesa County are investigated by the 21st Judicial District Critical Incident Response Team, which is comprised of representatives of the Grand Junction Police Department, Mesa County Sheriff’s Office, Fruita Police Department, Palisade Police Department, Colorado State Patrol, Colorado Department of Corrections, 21st Judicial District Attorney’s Office, and Colorado Bureau of Investigation.  Because Grand Junction Police Department personnel were involved in this incident, the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office is leading this investigation on behalf of CIRT.