Denver, CO – The U.S. Marshals Service Colorado Violent Offender Task Force located and arrested an Aurora attempted homicide suspect Tuesday afternoon in Denver. 

Michael Smith, 49, is wanted by the Aurora Police Department (APD) on a felony arrest warrant for attempted first-degree murder in connection to a shooting from May 31, 2024 that left two bystanders, including a child, injured. The shooting took place near a 7-Eleven convenience store located at 15296 E. Hampden Ave in Aurora. A warrant for Smith’s arrest was issued on June 17, 2024. Smith is also wanted by the U.S. Marshals and Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) after he walked away from a halfway house without authorization on April 22, 2021 while serving a federal sentence on a conviction for felon in possession of a firearm. 

In January 2026, APD requested assistance from the U.S. Marshals in locating and apprehending Smith on the attempted homicide warrant. Members of the U.S. Marshals Service’s Colorado Violent Offender Task Force (COVOTF) wrote numerous search warrants as part of the continued investigation into Smith and conducted multiple associate interviews to learn the alias he was utilizing to evade detection. 

On Tuesday, COVOTF members developed information indicating Smith was hiding with a family member near 14th and Milwaukee streets in Denver. Deputy U.S. Marshals and deputized Task Force Officers (TFOs) from the Englewood Police Department, Colorado Dept. of Corrections, and Boulder County Sheriff’s Office set up surveillance to confirm Smith’s presence in the area. While conducting surveillance, a person matching Smith’s description was observed exiting a residence in the 1400 block of Milwaukee St and speaking with a person in a vehicle stopped in the street. COVOTF members confirmed it was Smith and contacted him in the middle of the street where Smith was safely taken into custody. 

Deputy U.S. Marshals transported Smith to the Alfred A. Arraj Federal Courthouse where he was booked on the outstanding escape notice from the BOP. The APD attempted homicide warrant will remain active pending court proceedings.

The success of this arrest represents a culmination of extensive cooperative investigative efforts between the Aurora Police Department, U.S. Marshals Colorado Violent Offender Task Force, Colorado Bureau of Investigation, Englewood Police Department, Colorado Department of Corrections, and Boulder County Sheriff’s Office. 

The Colorado Violent Offender Task Force is a multi-jurisdictional fugitive task force that targets the most violent offenders to include those wanted for murder, assault, sex offenses, and other serious offenses throughout the state and country.  Nationally, the U.S. Marshals Service fugitive programs are carried out with local law enforcement in 94 district offices, 58 local fugitive task forces, eight regional task forces, as well as a growing network of offices in foreign countries. 

Tips can be submitted to the U.S. Marshals Service directly and anonymously by downloading the USMS Tips app to your Apple or Android device. It can also be accessed online at https://www.usmarshals.gov/tips. You can also follow the latest news and updates about the U.S. Marshals Service on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter); @USMSDenver.