An ex-Space Force sergeant has learned his fate after gunning down and killing a teen he believed was trying to steal his wife’s car.
Orest Schur, of Aurora, Colorado, was found guilty of shooting a 13 and 14-year-old, resulting in one of their deaths, on Monday.
On July 5, 2023, the 29-year-old woke up to a blaring car alarm just before midnight, The Denver Post reported.
Schur peered outside and saw the teenagers dressed in black – and suspected they were trying to break into his car.
The teens then sped off in a different vehicle as Schur chased after them.
When they crashed their car a few blocks away from his home, he pulled out his gun and shot them both.
Paramedics rushed to the scene and took the injured 14-year-old, Xavier Kirk, to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries.
The 13-year-old ran off to a relatives house and later went to a hospital, where he underwent surgery.
Orest Schur (pictured), of Aurora, Colorado , was found guilty of shooting two teenagers – resulting in one of their deaths – on Monday
Schur’s wife dialed 911 and told dispatchers it was the third time someone tried to steal their white Hyundai Elantra, prosecutors said (pictured: stock picture of a Hyundai Elantra)
After the shooting, he told police they pulled a gun on him first. However, investigators found no evidence of shots being fired at Schur, according to an affidavit.
Schur’s wife dialed 911 and told dispatchers it was the third time someone tried to steal their white Hyundai Elantra, prosecutors said.
She later told police her husband was ‘upset by what had happened and he indicated to her that he was nauseous.’
Months after Xavier was killed, his heartbroken mother spoke out about the incident that ended her son’s life.
‘It’s been very difficult because my son was only 14 and he had his whole life ahead of him,’ Leslie Kirk, Xavier’s mom, told Denver 7.
‘This traumatic situation, it made me really lost and confused and very devastated.
‘I feel like [Schur] could have called the cops and put it in their hands instead of him putting in his hands.
Paramedics rushed to the scene and took the injured 14-year-old, Xavier Kirk (pictured), to a hospital, where he succumbed to his injuries
‘Because at the end of the day, he chased my son and his friend down and shot and killed my son. My son was just a kid.’
At the time, Schur was a signals intelligence analyst at the Buckley Space Force Base in Aurora.
Before that, he was an Army sergeant. He served two tours in Afghanistan and earned 14 service awards, a military spokesperson told CBS news.
His Space Force career ended when he was discharged last summer.
The US Space Force is the sixth and newest branch of the military, tasked with protecting America and it allies’ ‘interests in space,’ according to the force’s website.
During the Monday, the jury convicted Schur of second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder.
They could have convicted him of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder, but opted for the lesser charges, The Denver Post reported.
Leslie Kirk (pictured) said her son did not deserve to die and Schur should have just called the police
Months after Xavier was killed, his heartbroken mother spoke out about the incident that ended her son’s life (pictured: Xavier’s grave)
Schur’s sentencing hearing is set for August 15. His second-degree murder charge carries a 16 to 48-year sentence.
His attempted second-degree murder charge carries a 10 to 32-year sentence.
With the penalties of both convictions being served back-to-back, Schur faces anywhere from 26 to 80 years in prison.
