An Arapahoe County grand jury indicted Aurora Police Officer Matthew Neely on charges of second-degree murder and reckless manslaughter [1], [2].
The case highlights the legal scrutiny facing law enforcement officers when lethal force is used during routine traffic stops. It marks a significant escalation from an internal investigation to criminal prosecution for an officer in Colorado.
The charges stem from a 2025 incident [3] in Aurora, Colorado, where Neely shot and killed Rajon Belt-Stubblefield [4]. According to reports, the shooting occurred following an attempted traffic stop [4]. Belt-Stubblefield was 37 years old [4].
District Attorney Amy Padden announced the charges following the proceedings of the 18th Judicial District Grand Jury [5]. Padden said, "Aurora Police Officer Matthew Neely has been charged with second-degree murder and reckless manslaughter" [1].
Investigators allege that Neely used unlawful force during the encounter [4]. The decision to move forward with an indictment comes after a lengthy investigation into the circumstances of the 2025 shooting [3].
Neely now faces a legal process that will determine if the use of force was justified under department policy and state law. The indictment by the Arapahoe County grand jury indicates that prosecutors presented enough evidence to suggest a crime occurred [3].
“"Aurora Police Officer Matthew Neely has been charged with second-degree murder and reckless manslaughter."”
The indictment of a police officer for second-degree murder represents a high legal threshold, as prosecutors must prove the use of force was not only unjustified but constituted a crime. By utilizing a grand jury in the 18th Judicial District, the state is seeking a formal criminal trial to address allegations of unlawful force during a traffic stop, a scenario that frequently triggers public debate over police conduct and racial bias in law enforcement.
