'Samaritan' John Hurley Shot Olde Town Arvada Gunman: Report

ARVADA, CO — An Arvada store employee witnessed a man — who police are calling a 'Samaritan' — rush toward a gunman and shoot him, The Denver Post reported.

John "Johnny" Hurley, 40, was shot to death Monday in Olde Town Arvada, and Arvada police Chief Link Strate later called Hurley a "true hero."

It's not yet known how Hurley died, but police said he likely saved lives.

“When the gunman came back toward the plaza, that’s when Hurley opened fire on him,” witness Bill Troyanos told The Post on Wednesday. “I did see him shoot the gunman.”

“I want to make sure that man’s family knows how heroic he was.”

A GoFundMe has been launched for the Hurley family.

Hurley may have been shot by a police officer, according to multiple reports; however, this has not been confirmed by Arvada police. In a media advisory issued Wednesday afternoon, the Arvada Police Department said information about the shooting would be released within the next few days.

"We understand there are still several unanswered questions surrounding the incident on Monday," the release read. "We want to be as transparent as possible. We have not completed all of the witness interviews and we are waiting on forensic evidence."

"We cannot release any documents related to the open investigation at this time."

> Read the full Denver Post story here.