On Thursday, April 9, 2026, about
3:15 p.m., Aurora patrol officers responded to an apartment complex in the 14000 block of East Stanford Circle following a 911 call, stating that a 23-year-old man, later identified as Amare Garlington, was threatening to harm others in the home. 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 fired several rounds striking Garlington, at which point both collapsed on the ground. 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. Following the shooting, officers and Aurora Fire Rescue personnel immediately began providing life-saving actions to both the injured officer and the suspect. Garlington was rushed by ambulance to a local hospital, where he later died from his injuries. Officer Moore was also rushed to a local hospital by ambulance where he is still recovering from his injuries.
