Aurora police officers arrested a suspect in connection with a shooting on I-225 last weekend in what officials described as a case in which camera technology and cooperation with federal immigration agents played a major role.

The case also illustrated the stark differences between the cities of Denver and Aurora in how they approach the use of surveillance videos and working with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Police on Thursday apprehended Celin Villeda Orellana, 38, on charges of attempted first-degree murder, first-degree assault, menacing and illegal discharge of a firearm, all felonies, according to Acting Assistant Chief Mark Hildebrand in a news conference on Friday.

Orellana has been deported three times since 2007.

The arrest happened during a traffic stop near the intersection of 11th Avenue and Havana Street in Aurora.

Police officials discovered that Orellana, a Honduran national who has been living in the U.S. illegally, was making plans to flee the country, police said. He was taken into ICE custody.

Orellana has been deported three times before, most recently after being arrested for sexual assault on a child in 2020.

The shooting happened just after 1 a.m. Saturday, when Aurora Police Department officers responded to reports of a single-vehicle crash on I-225 near East 6th Avenue.

The car’s driver — the victim — suffered from multiple gunshot wounds that led to the crash, Hilderbrand said. He was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.

Police used Flock Safety cameras with license plate readers to find the suspect’s vehicle. The police determined it belonged to Orellana, who had been following the victim throughout the day, Hildebrand said.

Orellana and the victim knew each other through a woman, Chief Todd Chamberlain said Friday. Chamberlain could not clarify what the relationship between the three parties was.

The Flock technology helped officers hold Orellana accountable, Hildebrand and Chamberlain said.

The case demonstrated the importance of modern technology for solving crime, Chamberlain said.

“Without this technology, we would not have been able to get a quick resolution in this case,” Hildebrand said.

In neighboring Denver, critics, including the ACLU and some members of the City Council, have pushed back on the city’s use of Flock technology, citing overreach and alleging misuse of the imagery and data captured. Notably, critics claimed that Flock shares data with federal immigration authorities, and, in response, the Denver City Council rejected a two-year contract extension with the company.

Supporters, meanwhile, said police agencies have begun to look to the technology to help fill critical gaps and clear cases, often referring to the camera system as a “force multiplier,” a military term that refers to a resource that enhances a unit’s combat power beyond what its raw troop numbers and capacities may suggest.

Denver Mayor Mike Johnston announced on Wednesday that his administration would be extending its contract with the Atlanta-based technology company. That extension would come at no cost to the city, the Johnston administration announced. Under the extension, the camera security company must abide by several stipulations, notably the prohibition against sharing its data with federal authorities.

Orellana, the suspect in Aurora, was deported in 2007, 2018 and 2020, when he was arrested in Denver on child sexual assault charges involving a victim under 15.

“That driver could’ve easily gone into other cars, could’ve easily killed other people, could’ve easily killed you,” Chamberlain said. “This individual, without question, represents a proven, violent offender who has repeatedly unfortunately, reentered this country despite multiple removals.”

Chamberlain said the department’s collaboration with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement was “pivotal” in the case.

“The Aurora Police Department does not focus on immigration, as all municipal law enforcement agencies do not, but we do focus on people who victimize others,” Chamberlain said. “Having these partnerships (with federal partners like ICE) is what made the difference in this case. It’s not about immigration, it’s about crime.”

Formal charges will be filed by the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, authorities said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867.