Topline: An Aurora police officer is facing murder and manslaughter charges nearly a year after the fatal shooting of Rajon Belt-Stubblefield during a traffic stop confrontation.
Published: August 5, 2026 11:34 am ET
Shawn Fletcher
Committed to the craft of journalism and am driven by my desire to inform and inspire.
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Matthew Neely, left, and Rajon Belt-Stubblefield (via Commerce City Police Department / Family handout)
AURORA, CO — An Aurora police officer has been indicted on second-degree murder and manslaughter charges in the 2025 shooting death of 37-year-old Rajon Belt-Stubblefield after a traffic stop confrontation turned fatal on an Aurora sidewalk.
According to FOX31, the indictment accuses Officer Matthew Neely in the Aug. 30, 2025, killing of Belt-Stubblefield, and court records show Neely is due back in court on Aug. 17 after the case was sent to a grand jury for review earlier this year.
Reporting on the case shows the shooting happened near East Sixth Avenue and Billings Street after Neely tried to stop Belt-Stubblefield, who then crashed into two other vehicles before getting out of his car. Body camera footage later released by police showed Belt-Stubblefield saying, “Don’t shoot me,” tossing a handgun into the grass, and continuing to move toward Neely as the officer backed up and ordered him to the ground.
The footage and court reporting also show Belt-Stubblefield’s son was with him during the encounter and can be heard telling both his father and the officer to chill. Investigators said Neely punched or shoved Belt-Stubblefield during the confrontation before firing three shots, including two to the chest and a third to the head, killing him at the scene.
The case drew broader scrutiny because Aurora police remain under a consent decree tied to the 2019 death of Elijah McClain, and an independent monitor previously raised concerns about escalation, solo-officer tactics and the department’s public handling of the Belt-Stubblefield shooting. Neely, 54, was placed on unpaid administrative leave, turned himself in after a warrant was issued, and was later released on a $200,000 cash surety bond.
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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Aurora Officer Indicted in Deadly 2025 Shooting of Rajon Belt-Stubblefield
An Aurora police officer is facing murder and manslaughter charges nearly a year after the fatal shooting of Rajon Belt-Stubblefield during a traffic stop confrontation.
By Shawn Fletcher
Published: August 5, 2026 11:34 am ET
Matthew Neely, left, and Rajon Belt-Stubblefield (via Commerce City Police Department / Family handout)
AURORA, CO — An Aurora police officer has been indicted on second-degree murder and manslaughter charges in the 2025 shooting death of 37-year-old Rajon Belt-Stubblefield after a traffic stop confrontation turned fatal on an Aurora sidewalk.
According to FOX31, the indictment accuses Officer Matthew Neely in the Aug. 30, 2025, killing of Belt-Stubblefield, and court records show Neely is due back in court on Aug. 17 after the case was sent to a grand jury for review earlier this year.
Reporting on the case shows the shooting happened near East Sixth Avenue and Billings Street after Neely tried to stop Belt-Stubblefield, who then crashed into two other vehicles before getting out of his car. Body camera footage later released by police showed Belt-Stubblefield saying, “Don’t shoot me,” tossing a handgun into the grass, and continuing to move toward Neely as the officer backed up and ordered him to the ground.
The footage and court reporting also show Belt-Stubblefield’s son was with him during the encounter and can be heard telling both his father and the officer to chill. Investigators said Neely punched or shoved Belt-Stubblefield during the confrontation before firing three shots, including two to the chest and a third to the head, killing him at the scene.
The case drew broader scrutiny because Aurora police remain under a consent decree tied to the 2019 death of Elijah McClain, and an independent monitor previously raised concerns about escalation, solo-officer tactics and the department’s public handling of the Belt-Stubblefield shooting. Neely, 54, was placed on unpaid administrative leave, turned himself in after a warrant was issued, and was later released on a $200,000 cash surety bond.
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.
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Editor Picks
Latest Articles
Aurora Officer Indicted in Deadly 2025 Shooting of Rajon Belt-Stubblefield
An Aurora police officer is facing murder and manslaughter charges nearly a year after the fatal shooting of Rajon Belt-Stubblefield during a traffic stop confrontation.
By Shawn Fletcher
Published: August 5, 2026 11:34 am ET
Matthew Neely, left, and Rajon Belt-Stubblefield (via Commerce City Police Department / Family handout)
AURORA, CO — An Aurora police officer has been indicted on second-degree murder and manslaughter charges in the 2025 shooting death of 37-year-old Rajon Belt-Stubblefield after a traffic stop confrontation turned fatal on an Aurora sidewalk.
According to FOX31, the indictment accuses Officer Matthew Neely in the Aug. 30, 2025, killing of Belt-Stubblefield, and court records show Neely is due back in court on Aug. 17 after the case was sent to a grand jury for review earlier this year.
Reporting on the case shows the shooting happened near East Sixth Avenue and Billings Street after Neely tried to stop Belt-Stubblefield, who then crashed into two other vehicles before getting out of his car. Body camera footage later released by police showed Belt-Stubblefield saying, “Don’t shoot me,” tossing a handgun into the grass, and continuing to move toward Neely as the officer backed up and ordered him to the ground.
The footage and court reporting also show Belt-Stubblefield’s son was with him during the encounter and can be heard telling both his father and the officer to chill. Investigators said Neely punched or shoved Belt-Stubblefield during the confrontation before firing three shots, including two to the chest and a third to the head, killing him at the scene.
The case drew broader scrutiny because Aurora police remain under a consent decree tied to the 2019 death of Elijah McClain, and an independent monitor previously raised concerns about escalation, solo-officer tactics and the department’s public handling of the Belt-Stubblefield shooting. Neely, 54, was placed on unpaid administrative leave, turned himself in after a warrant was issued, and was later released on a $200,000 cash surety bond.
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.
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