Police in Aurora, Colorado, arrested and charged a truck driver in connection with a deadly shooting that occurred on Friday morning.
Iowa-based truck driver John Thoren, 42, was arrested and faces a charge of Second Degree Murder in the death of 46 year old Rachel Holmes.
The shooting was reported around 2:30 a.m. on October 28 in a parking lot at 6360 S. Parker Road in Aurora.
According to police arrest documents obtained by KDVR, Thoren told police that he had been asleep in the parking lot when he was awakened by Holmes throwing several rocks at the driver’s side of his truck, striking the window.
Thoren said that he told Holmes to stop and displayed his firearm to her, but she continued to throw rocks. He reported opening the door to his truck and telling Holmes, “If you don’t stop you are about to get shot.”
Thoren says this was the point when Holmes charged him and he opened fire, fearing for his own safety.
Police found Holmes lying on the ground near the semi truck. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Thoren said that he called 911 just moments after the shooting and stated that he had acted in self-defense. Police say that he cooperated with the investigation.
According to the KDVR report, police did not find significant damage to Thoren’s truck.
Thoren denied having a sexual relationship with Holmes or having met her prior to the incident.
Thoren told police that he made a delivery to a nearby store and was sleeping in the parking lot because he was out of hours.
CBS News reports that Holmes was arrested multiple times over the past several years on charges including disorderly conduct, disturbing the peace, and assault on police officers, but that charges were dropped following mental health evaluations.
Anyone with additional information is asked to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867.