AURORA, Colo. — An Aurora Police Department officer has been indicted on second-degree murder and manslaughter charges in connection with the fatal 2025 shooting of 37-year-old Rajon Belt-Stubblefield following a traffic stop, vehicle crash and physical confrontation.
An 18th Judicial District grand jury returned an indictment charging Officer Matthew Neely, 54, with one count of second-degree murder, a Class 2 felony, and one count of manslaughter, a Class 4 felony.
The charges stem from the Aug. 30, 2025, shooting near East Sixth Avenue and Billings Street in Aurora.
According to the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, an arrest warrant was issued for Neely on July 31. He surrendered over the weekend and posted a $200,000 cash/surety bond.
Neely has been placed on unpaid administrative leave by the Aurora Police Department.
The indictment represents a finding of probable cause and is not a finding of guilt. Neely is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Grand Jury Returns Indictment
The shooting was investigated by the 18th Judicial District Critical Incident Response Team, which investigates officer-involved shootings and other critical uses of force.
After that investigation was completed, District Attorney Amy Padden presented the case to a grand jury.
According to the District Attorney’s Office, the grand jury determined that probable cause existed to support the criminal charges.
Neely’s attorney, Carrie Slinkard, said following the announcement of the indictment that the defense was disappointed by the grand jury’s decision and noted that grand jury proceedings do not provide the defense with an opportunity to cross-examine witnesses or present its case in the same manner as a criminal trial.
The defense said it intends to present what it describes as the full facts of the case in court.
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Traffic Stop Preceded Crash
According to police accounts, publicly released body-worn camera footage and reporting concerning the indictment, the encounter began when Neely was conducting traffic enforcement along East Sixth Avenue as part of a Labor Day weekend DUI enforcement operation.
Police said Neely observed Belt-Stubblefield driving above the posted speed limit and attempted to initiate a traffic stop.
Belt-Stubblefield did not immediately stop.
During the ensuing sequence, Belt-Stubblefield’s vehicle struck two other vehicles and ultimately became disabled near East Sixth Avenue and Billings Street.
Neely arrived at the crash location and approached Belt-Stubblefield’s vehicle with his firearm drawn.
Body-camera footage released by Aurora police shows Neely issuing commands for Belt-Stubblefield to show his hands.
Belt-Stubblefield Discarded Handgun
Belt-Stubblefield eventually exited the vehicle.
Video of the encounter shows Belt-Stubblefield moving away from the vehicle and discarding a handgun into a grassy area near the roadway.
Neely subsequently made physical contact with Belt-Stubblefield while attempting to gain control of him. Both men went to the ground during the confrontation.
Belt-Stubblefield then got back to his feet and moved away from Neely.
The indictment states that Neely pointed his firearm at Belt-Stubblefield and issued additional commands.
According to accounts of the body-camera footage, Belt-Stubblefield’s son had arrived nearby during the confrontation.
Belt-Stubblefield repeatedly instructed his son to retrieve the discarded firearm, according to the video and investigative accounts.
Neely warned Belt-Stubblefield that he would shoot and attempted to transition away from his firearm to a less-lethal option, according to the indictment. The indictment states that Neely had pepper spray and a collapsible baton but was not carrying a Taser.
Neely was reportedly unable to holster his handgun during the attempted transition.
Final Confrontation Before Shooting
As the encounter continued, Belt-Stubblefield approached Neely while repeatedly communicating with his son about the discarded handgun.
At one point, Neely struck Belt-Stubblefield.
Belt-Stubblefield then assumed what Aurora Police Chief Todd Chamberlain previously described during the department’s critical-incident presentation as an aggressive fighting stance.
Body-camera footage shows Belt-Stubblefield continuing toward Neely while asking him whether he was ready for the confrontation.
Neely continued backing away and moved into the roadway while issuing commands for Belt-Stubblefield to get on the ground.
Neely then fired three shots.
Belt-Stubblefield was struck twice in the torso and once in the head, according to publicly reported accounts of the shooting and subsequent investigation.
He died from his injuries.
Additional officers arrived approximately two minutes after the shooting and began providing medical assistance.
What the Grand Jury Alleged
The indictment focuses in part on whether Belt-Stubblefield presented an imminent threat that legally justified deadly force at the moment Neely fired.
According to the indictment, Belt-Stubblefield did not verbally threaten to harm Neely and did not make an overt attempt to disarm the officer or personally retrieve the discarded handgun.
The indictment also alleges Neely had not advised Belt-Stubblefield that he was under arrest before the shooting.
Prosecutors additionally allege that Neely did not provide an immediate warning immediately before firing because he wanted to preserve what the indictment characterized as an element of surprise.
Those statements constitute allegations contained in the criminal case and have not been proven at trial.
The defense will have the opportunity to challenge the prosecution’s evidence, introduce evidence and arguments of its own, and contest whether Neely’s use of deadly force was legally justified under the circumstances.
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Aurora Police Chief Calls for Due Process
Following the indictment, Aurora Police Chief Todd Chamberlain said the department respects the judicial process and would not comment on the merits of a pending criminal prosecution.
Chamberlain emphasized that police officers frequently encounter dangerous and rapidly developing situations requiring decisions within seconds.
He also stressed that the filing of criminal charges does not constitute a determination of guilt and expressed confidence that the evidence would be examined through the court process.
Chamberlain thanked Aurora officers for their continued service and encouraged them to continue working with professionalism, compassion and integrity.
Family and Community Groups Respond
Belt-Stubblefield’s family and community organizations that have supported them welcomed the grand jury’s decision while acknowledging that the indictment represents the beginning of the criminal process rather than its conclusion.
The Aurora and Rocky Mountain chapters of the NAACP issued a joint statement saying they would continue following the case as it moves through the courts.
Epitome of Black Excellence and Partnership, a community organization supporting Belt-Stubblefield’s family, similarly described the indictment as the beginning of a public judicial process.
Attorneys representing Belt-Stubblefield’s family previously notified the City of Aurora of their intention to pursue wrongful-death litigation reportedly seeking more than $20 million in damages.
Any civil allegations remain separate from the criminal prosecution against Neely.
Neely’s Prior 2019 Internal Affairs Case
Separate from the current criminal prosecution, Neely was involved in a 2019 incident that later resulted in findings by an Arapahoe County judge and an Aurora Police Department internal affairs investigation.
The earlier matter is unrelated to the Belt-Stubblefield shooting and does not establish whether Neely committed any offense in the current case.
During a hearing in the 2019 burglary case, an 18th Judicial District Court judge found that testimony from Neely and another Aurora officer was inconsistent with body-camera footage and determined that portions of their testimony were not credible.
The judge also concluded that the defendant in that case had been unlawfully arrested and that aspects of the officers’ detention, search and use of force were not legally justified.
Aurora police subsequently opened an internal affairs investigation.
According to an internal affairs summary previously obtained and reported by Sentinel Colorado, investigators found that neither officer had reviewed the body-camera footage before preparing reports or testifying, resulting in discrepancies between portions of their testimony and the video evidence.
Then-acting Police Chief Paul O’Keefe sustained allegations against Neely involving conduct unbecoming and unsatisfactory performance.
However, allegations involving false or untruthful declarations, improper use of force and failure to comply with constitutional requirements were not sustained.
The publicly reported internal affairs summary did not identify what discipline, if any, was imposed.
Aurora officials previously said Neely was initially hired as a recruit in 2002, retired from the department in 2023 and was rehired in March 2024.
Aurora Police Department Remains Under Consent Decree
The Aurora Police Department has operated under a state-mandated consent decree following an investigation by the Colorado Attorney General’s Office into department practices.
The agreement requires reforms and oversight involving areas including use of force, policing practices, documentation and accountability.
The existence of the consent decree does not determine the legality of Neely’s actions in the Belt-Stubblefield shooting. His criminal responsibility will be determined independently through the court process.
Current Status
As of Aug. 7, 2026:
- Matthew Neely is charged with one count of second-degree murder, a Class 2 felony.
- He is also charged with one count of manslaughter, a Class 4 felony.
- Neely surrendered following issuance of an arrest warrant.
- He posted a $200,000 cash/surety bond and is not being held in jail.
- The Aurora Police Department has placed him on unpaid administrative leave.
- His next court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 17, 2026.
- The criminal charges remain pending and Neely is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Because the criminal case is pending, the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office has said it will not comment further outside public court proceedings.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Matthew Neely charged with?
Neely has been charged with second-degree murder and manslaughter in connection with the Aug. 30, 2025, death of Rajon Belt-Stubblefield.
Has Neely been convicted?
No. A grand jury indictment means jurors determined there was probable cause to support criminal charges. It is not a conviction or determination of guilt. Neely is presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
Was Rajon Belt-Stubblefield armed?
Belt-Stubblefield had a handgun during the encounter but discarded it in a grassy area before the shooting. Video and investigative accounts indicate he subsequently instructed his son to retrieve the weapon. The legal dispute centers in part on the threat Neely reasonably perceived at the moment deadly force was used.
Did Belt-Stubblefield physically confront Neely?
Yes. Publicly released video shows a physical encounter between Neely and Belt-Stubblefield before the shooting. Belt-Stubblefield later approached Neely in what police officials described as a fighting stance while Neely backed away and issued commands.
Did Belt-Stubblefield attempt to take Neely’s firearm?
The indictment alleges Belt-Stubblefield did not make an overt attempt to disarm Neely. Whether the totality of Belt-Stubblefield’s conduct nevertheless constituted an imminent threat sufficient to justify deadly force is expected to be a central issue in the criminal case.
How many times was Belt-Stubblefield shot?
Publicly released footage and investigative accounts indicate Neely fired three rounds, striking Belt-Stubblefield twice in the torso and once in the head.
Is Neely still working as an Aurora police officer?
Neely has been placed on unpaid administrative leave while the criminal case is pending.
When is Neely’s next court date?
Neely’s next scheduled court appearance is Aug. 17, 2026.
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