An Aurora police officer who shot and killed a 37-year-old Black man during a traffic stop last year, a case that drew significant public attention, was indicted on second-degree murder and manslaughter charges, court records show.
Matthew Neely, 54, shot and killed Rajon Belt-Stubblefield, 37, Aug. 30 near East 6th Avenue and Billings Street. The case was referred to a grand jury earlier this year.
Neely was placed on unpaid administrative leave, Gabby Easterwood, a spokesperson for the Aurora police department said Monday morning. Easterwood declined to comment on the pending litigation, but said officers are often required to make split-second decisions.
“Police officers are routinely called on to address — sometimes in seconds — dangerous and rapidly evolving situations they did not create,” Easterwood said in an email to The Colorado Sun. I am confident that all the facts will be fully examined through due process. As with any case, these filing charges are not a determination of guilt.”
Days after the shooting, Aurora Police Chief Todd Chamberlain defended Neely’s actions and blamed Belt-Stubblefield for escalating the situation.
“This was not something the officer, the department or the city of Aurora wanted,” Chamberlain said during a news conference Sept. 2. “Our officer was performing his duty, enforcing traffic laws, keeping our city safe. He did not choose this confrontation. It was the suspect’s actions that escalated and turned this into violence.”
Belt-Stubblefield’s family has disputed the chief’s account, accusing Neely’s actions as unnecessary and unjustifiable.
“He was unnecessarily, unjustifiably, and unconstitutionally executed right before his son’s face,” Ben Crump, an attorney representing Belt Stubblefield’s family said during a news conference last September.
Footage from Neely’s body camera shows the moments before the fatal shooting after Neely attempted to pull him over during a traffic stop about 7:30 p.m.
After Belt-Stubblefield crashed into two vehicles, Neely approached his car with a gun drawn, footage shows. Belt-Stubblefield is heard saying “don’t shoot me” before getting out of his car and tossing a handgun in the grass.
The two face off each other on the sidewalk and in the grass. Neely repeatedly tells Belt-Stubblefield to get on the ground, but he refuses. Belt-Stubblefield’s son, who was in the car at the time, is heard telling his dad and the officer to “chill.”
Neely pushes Belt-Stubblefield, who then holds up his fists in the air and continues to walk toward Neely.
Neely then fired three shots — two in his chest and one in his head — killing Belt-Stubblefield.
Neely was not required to carry a Taser but had pepper spray and a collapsible baton, according to the grand jury indictment. The officer tried to holster his pistol so that he could grab the baton, but struggled to do so. Neely testified that he ruled out using pepper spray because of his proximity to the suspect, saying the spray likely would have affected both of them.
Neely did not tell Belt-Stubblefield that he was under arrest and did not use his radio to tell a dispatching officer that Belt-Stubblefield threw a gun into the grass or that he was ignoring his commands, the indictment said.
He did not warn Belt-Stubblefield before shooting because he wanted to maintain “an element of surprise,” according to the indictment.
The footage shows Neely firing three shots in quick succession. Belt-Stubblefield fell to the ground immediately after the shots were fired.
Neely said he fired three times because the first two shots “appeared to have no effect.” He testified that he then decided to “change the target” and fired a third shot at Belt-Stubblefield’s head.
A critical incident response team conducted an independent review of the shooting and presented evidence to the 18th Judicial District Attorney Amy Padden, who then presented the case to the grand jury.
“Based on the evidence presented, the grand jury determined there is probable cause to support these criminal charges,” Padden said in a statement.
Neely turned himself in to authorities over the weekend after an arrest warrant was issued Friday. He was later released from custody after posting a $200.000 cash surety bond, according to the district attorney’s office. Neely is expected in court Aug. 17.