In the early morning hours of February 18, 2017, the life of 29-year-old Kelly Bly Acosta, a White male, was tragically cut short in an act of selfless courage. In the parking lot of his Aurora, Colorado, apartment complex on South Crystal Circle, Acosta witnessed a man assaulting a woman. Without hesitation, he intervened, attempting to de-escalate the volatile situation and protect the female. It was a decision that would cost him his life.
The male suspect, described as a Black male, turned his aggression towards Acosta, shooting him before fleeing the scene in what witnesses described as a possible white vehicle.
First responders arrived at approximately 4:00 a.m. to find Acosta on the ground, bleeding from gunshot wounds. He was rushed to a nearby hospital, but the injuries he sustained proved to be fatal, and he was pronounced dead. The Arapahoe County coroner's office would later confirm that Acosta's death was a homicide caused by a gunshot wound. The community was left in shock and mourning for a man remembered by friends and family as a hero who wouldn't hesitate to do the right thing.
In the years following the senseless act of violence, the investigation into Kelly Bly Acosta's murder has remained ongoing, yet no arrests have been made. The case has grown cold, leaving his loved ones without the closure of justice. The Aurora Police Department, along with federal agencies, has offered substantial rewards for any information that could lead to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for his death. Friends and family continue to hold out hope that someone will come forward with the key piece of information that will solve the case and honor the memory of the man who died a hero.
