AURORA, Colo. (TCD) — A jury recently found a 44-year-old man guilty of killing a 46-year-old woman after a rock-throwing incident in a parking lot in 2022.
According to the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, on April 12, John Thoren III was found guilty of second-degree murder and an enhancement of violent crime/use of a weapon in connection with the shooting death of Rachel Holmes. Thoren is scheduled to appear in court for sentencing on July 22.
On Oct. 28, 2022, Thoren was sleeping in his semitruck in a parking lot when he reportedly woke up to Holmes throwing rocks at his vehicle at approximately 2:30 a.m. According to prosecutors, Thoren said he “told the woman to stop and then showed a gun.”
After threatening to shoot the woman if she didn’t stop throwing rocks, Thoren eventually pulled the trigger of his 9 mm gun, and Holmes was pronounced dead at the scene, the district attorney’s office said. Thoren called 911 following the incident but failed to render aid to Holmes.
According to the district attorney’s office, Thoren told investigators he was “scared for his safety and admitted to shooting the victim.” Officers observed “minimal” evidence of wreckage on Thoren’s truck.