Topline: The suspect told police, “I drove at the women because I saw them kissing and they were lesbians and I wanted to kill them.”
Published: January 30, 2026 1:30 pm ET
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Vitalie Oprea (via 18th Judicial District Attorney's Office)
ARAPAHOE COUNTY, CO — A 47-year-old man has been sentenced to two decades in prison for what prosecutors described as a violent, hate-motivated attempt to kill two women he believed were a lesbian couple.
Vitalie Oprea was sentenced to 20 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections following a 2023 investigation that stemmed from an attack near the intersection of East Arapahoe Road and South Liverpool Street, according to a press release issued by the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.
Oprea pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree murder after deliberation, along with a violent crime sentence enhancer, prosecutors announced.
The incident occurred on Feb. 19, 2023, after Oprea took his parents’ vehicle without permission and drove to the area, where he allegedly noticed two women standing on a street corner whom he believed were lesbians, according to witness statements cited by prosecutors. Witnesses told investigators that Oprea began yelling at the women and making obscene gestures before making a U-turn and driving westbound in the eastbound lanes of East Arapahoe Road in an apparent effort to get closer to them.
Fearing for their safety, the women ran toward a grassy area near Grandview High School in an attempt to escape, according to the district attorney’s office. Witnesses reported that Oprea then drove over a curb, onto a sidewalk and across a grassy area while pursuing them.
The women were eventually able to climb into a Ram pickup truck, but prosecutors said Oprea rammed the truck with his vehicle. He then exited his car, approached the passenger side of the truck, kicked it, opened the door and attempted to pull one of the women out before fleeing the scene, according to investigators. Oprea was arrested later that day in Arvada.
Both victims told investigators they feared for their lives and believed Oprea, whom they did not know, was trying to run them over and kill them. Witnesses echoed that assessment, stating they believed Oprea was attempting to strike the women with his vehicle, according to the district attorney’s office.
While in custody, Oprea made what prosecutors described as a spontaneous statement to the arresting officer, saying, “I drove at the women because I saw them kissing and they were lesbians and I wanted to kill them.”
Deputy District Attorney Lauren Agee said the attack was unprovoked and rooted in bias.
“These women did nothing to provoke this violence,” Agee said. “They were targeted, chased, and left fearing for their lives. Our office takes hate-motivated violence extremely seriously, and attacks rooted in hate will be met with accountability and significant consequences.”
The 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office established a specialized Hate Crimes Team in 2020 to strengthen the investigation and prosecution of bias-motivated offenses. Chief Deputy District Attorney Joel Zink said the case underscored the importance of that effort.
“This case highlights why we established our specialized Hate Crimes Team,” Zink said. “By dedicating specific resources and expertise to cases where individuals are targeted because of who they are, we ensure these crimes are met with the full force of the law. This 20-year sentence reflects our unwavering commitment to a coordinated, aggressive response to hate-motivated violence in the 18th Judicial District.”
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
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Man Tried to Kill Two Women With Car Because He Believed They Were Lesbians
The suspect told police, “I drove at the women because I saw them kissing and they were lesbians and I wanted to kill them.”
By Jacob Charles
Published: January 30, 2026 1:30 pm ET
Vitalie Oprea (via 18th Judicial District Attorney's Office)
ARAPAHOE COUNTY, CO — A 47-year-old man has been sentenced to two decades in prison for what prosecutors described as a violent, hate-motivated attempt to kill two women he believed were a lesbian couple.
Vitalie Oprea was sentenced to 20 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections following a 2023 investigation that stemmed from an attack near the intersection of East Arapahoe Road and South Liverpool Street, according to a press release issued by the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.
Oprea pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree murder after deliberation, along with a violent crime sentence enhancer, prosecutors announced.
The incident occurred on Feb. 19, 2023, after Oprea took his parents’ vehicle without permission and drove to the area, where he allegedly noticed two women standing on a street corner whom he believed were lesbians, according to witness statements cited by prosecutors. Witnesses told investigators that Oprea began yelling at the women and making obscene gestures before making a U-turn and driving westbound in the eastbound lanes of East Arapahoe Road in an apparent effort to get closer to them.
Fearing for their safety, the women ran toward a grassy area near Grandview High School in an attempt to escape, according to the district attorney’s office. Witnesses reported that Oprea then drove over a curb, onto a sidewalk and across a grassy area while pursuing them.
The women were eventually able to climb into a Ram pickup truck, but prosecutors said Oprea rammed the truck with his vehicle. He then exited his car, approached the passenger side of the truck, kicked it, opened the door and attempted to pull one of the women out before fleeing the scene, according to investigators. Oprea was arrested later that day in Arvada.
Both victims told investigators they feared for their lives and believed Oprea, whom they did not know, was trying to run them over and kill them. Witnesses echoed that assessment, stating they believed Oprea was attempting to strike the women with his vehicle, according to the district attorney’s office.
While in custody, Oprea made what prosecutors described as a spontaneous statement to the arresting officer, saying, “I drove at the women because I saw them kissing and they were lesbians and I wanted to kill them.”
Deputy District Attorney Lauren Agee said the attack was unprovoked and rooted in bias.
“These women did nothing to provoke this violence,” Agee said. “They were targeted, chased, and left fearing for their lives. Our office takes hate-motivated violence extremely seriously, and attacks rooted in hate will be met with accountability and significant consequences.”
The 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office established a specialized Hate Crimes Team in 2020 to strengthen the investigation and prosecution of bias-motivated offenses. Chief Deputy District Attorney Joel Zink said the case underscored the importance of that effort.
“This case highlights why we established our specialized Hate Crimes Team,” Zink said. “By dedicating specific resources and expertise to cases where individuals are targeted because of who they are, we ensure these crimes are met with the full force of the law. This 20-year sentence reflects our unwavering commitment to a coordinated, aggressive response to hate-motivated violence in the 18th Judicial District.”
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Man Tried to Kill Two Women With Car Because He Believed They Were Lesbians
The suspect told police, “I drove at the women because I saw them kissing and they were lesbians and I wanted to kill them.”
By Jacob Charles
Published: January 30, 2026 1:30 pm ET
Vitalie Oprea (via 18th Judicial District Attorney's Office)
ARAPAHOE COUNTY, CO — A 47-year-old man has been sentenced to two decades in prison for what prosecutors described as a violent, hate-motivated attempt to kill two women he believed were a lesbian couple.
Vitalie Oprea was sentenced to 20 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections following a 2023 investigation that stemmed from an attack near the intersection of East Arapahoe Road and South Liverpool Street, according to a press release issued by the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.
Oprea pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree murder after deliberation, along with a violent crime sentence enhancer, prosecutors announced.
The incident occurred on Feb. 19, 2023, after Oprea took his parents’ vehicle without permission and drove to the area, where he allegedly noticed two women standing on a street corner whom he believed were lesbians, according to witness statements cited by prosecutors. Witnesses told investigators that Oprea began yelling at the women and making obscene gestures before making a U-turn and driving westbound in the eastbound lanes of East Arapahoe Road in an apparent effort to get closer to them.
Fearing for their safety, the women ran toward a grassy area near Grandview High School in an attempt to escape, according to the district attorney’s office. Witnesses reported that Oprea then drove over a curb, onto a sidewalk and across a grassy area while pursuing them.
The women were eventually able to climb into a Ram pickup truck, but prosecutors said Oprea rammed the truck with his vehicle. He then exited his car, approached the passenger side of the truck, kicked it, opened the door and attempted to pull one of the women out before fleeing the scene, according to investigators. Oprea was arrested later that day in Arvada.
Both victims told investigators they feared for their lives and believed Oprea, whom they did not know, was trying to run them over and kill them. Witnesses echoed that assessment, stating they believed Oprea was attempting to strike the women with his vehicle, according to the district attorney’s office.
While in custody, Oprea made what prosecutors described as a spontaneous statement to the arresting officer, saying, “I drove at the women because I saw them kissing and they were lesbians and I wanted to kill them.”
Deputy District Attorney Lauren Agee said the attack was unprovoked and rooted in bias.
“These women did nothing to provoke this violence,” Agee said. “They were targeted, chased, and left fearing for their lives. Our office takes hate-motivated violence extremely seriously, and attacks rooted in hate will be met with accountability and significant consequences.”
The 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office established a specialized Hate Crimes Team in 2020 to strengthen the investigation and prosecution of bias-motivated offenses. Chief Deputy District Attorney Joel Zink said the case underscored the importance of that effort.
“This case highlights why we established our specialized Hate Crimes Team,” Zink said. “By dedicating specific resources and expertise to cases where individuals are targeted because of who they are, we ensure these crimes are met with the full force of the law. This 20-year sentence reflects our unwavering commitment to a coordinated, aggressive response to hate-motivated violence in the 18th Judicial District.”
Presumption of Innocence: A presumption of innocence means that any defendant in a criminal trial is presumed to be innocent until they have been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. The defendant in this case is only accused of the charges set forth in the criminal complaint. They are innocent until proven guilty.
Editor's Note: ThePo makes every effort to accurately transcribe the contents of affidavits of probable cause contained in criminal complaints. Often, the complaints themselves are copies of copies of faxed copies, and are difficult to read. To confirm the accuracy of our transcription, contact the Magisterial District Court listed above and request a copy of the criminal complaint. It's a public record to which you are entitled.
Must Read
