A former U.S. Space Force sergeant has been sentenced to 54 years in prison after shooting two unarmed teenagers — killing one of them — in what prosecutors called a deadly act of vigilante violence.
The shooting took place on July 5, 2023, in Aurora, Colorado, after Orest Schur, 29, said he woke to the sound of his car alarm going off outside his home.
What happened next has now changed multiple lives forever.
Instead of calling police, Schur grabbed a pistol and began driving around the neighborhood in search of whoever had tried to break into his Hyundai Elantra. Not long after, he spotted two teenage boys in a nearby car. He followed them, pulled out his weapon, and opened fire — not once, but 11 times.
As the teens attempted to flee the vehicle on foot, Schur kept shooting. Xavier Kirk, just 14 years old, was struck in the back and head. He died at the scene. His 13-year-old friend was also hit in the back but survived.
In a statement shared later, the surviving teen described the moment as life-shattering.
“An adult chose to use deadly force against two unarmed teenagers. That is not justice, that is not safety, that is not accountability,” he wrote. “I survived, but I am not the same. My friend didn’t survive at all.”
Prosecutors said forensic evidence showed that only Schur fired a weapon that night. The boys were unarmed and had not stolen the vehicle they were in.
“This was vigilante violence at its worst,” said District Attorney Brian Mason. “A 14-year-old boy will now never grow up because of the defendant’s actions.”
In court, Schur broke down as he addressed the judge and the victim’s family.
“I am sorry for the events that occurred that night… for the pain, for the grief, for the trauma,” Schur said through tears.
BREAKING – Colorado Judge Caryn Datz has sentenced former US Space Force sergeant Orest Schur to 54 years in prison for shooting a “teen” in self-defense after the teen stole his car outside his apartment in Aurora, Colorado, in 2023. pic.twitter.com/sjg3M6WqYx
— Right Angle News Network (@Rightanglenews) August 20, 2025
But Xavier’s family made it clear that apologies weren’t enough. His mother, Leslie Kirk, spoke outside the courthouse, saying her son was just a kid — not a criminal.
“This traumatic situation made me really lost and confused and very devastated,” she said. “He could have called the cops… instead of chasing my son down and shooting and killing him.”
His father was more direct in court:
“To chase them down and execute him, over a car they didn’t even take, is ludicrous.”
A relative added that while teens make mistakes, this punishment didn’t fit the situation.
“We’re not trying to excuse any wrongdoing… but the part that’s messed up is Schur’s car was never stolen.”
Schur had served in both the U.S. Army and the U.S. Space Force. He completed two tours in Afghanistan, earned 14 military awards, and most recently worked as a signals intelligence analyst at Buckley Space Force Base. He was discharged from the military last summer.
Despite his military background, jurors rejected his claims of self-defense. On June 16, 2025, he was convicted of second-degree murder and second-degree attempted murder.
The judge sentenced him to 36 years for the murder and 18 years for the attempted murder, to be served back-to-back.
The case has sparked a wave of reaction across the country — raising questions about the use of force, vigilante behavior, and how far someone can go to protect their property.
But for one family, the most painful truth is this: a 14-year-old boy is gone. And nothing will bring him back.
