A minor annoyance at a traffic light escalated into a fatal road rage incident that claimed the life of 54-year-old Phillip Hunt in Aurora, Colorado. Hunt, a male, was with his wife, Donna, in their Jeep Grand Cherokee, stopped at a red light at East Iliff Avenue and South Chambers Road. When the light turned green, the driver behind them, later identified as 19-year-old Romeo Desean Thompson, honked his horn. Annoyed by the honk, Hunt accelerated slowly.
This seemingly insignificant moment sparked an aggressive response from Thompson.
Thompson sped around Hunt's vehicle and threw a bottle at it. This prompted Hunt to pursue Thompson's Jeep Cherokee at high speed through the streets of Aurora. The chase ended when both drivers pulled over near the intersection of East Yale Avenue and East Brown Drive. Both men exited their vehicles and a verbal argument quickly turned into a physical altercation. Hunt's wife witnessed Thompson strike her husband with a black handgun before she heard two or three gunshots.
The confrontation left Phillip Hunt with gunshot wounds to his chest and abdomen. He was transported to a local hospital where he later died from his injuries. Donna Hunt was able to capture images of Thompson's vehicle and license plate, which aided in his swift apprehension. A nearby doorbell camera also recorded the shooting.
Romeo Desean Thompson was arrested just a few hours after the deadly encounter. He was taken into custody behind a Circle K gas station after leaving his vehicle. According to an arrest affidavit, Thompson admitted to shooting Hunt, claiming he fired two shots after Hunt was already on the ground. Thompson stated that during their struggle, Hunt had taken his cell phone and refused to return it, which led to the final shot. He faces charges of first-degree murder and possession of a weapon by a previous offender.
