Colorado woman who shot 'ex-lover' she claimed broke into her home is charged with attempted murder

Colorado woman, 25, who shot 'ex-lover' she claimed broke into her home and assaulted her friend is charged with attempted murder three days later after cops uncovered new evidence

Emily Strunk, 25, called 911 on Saturday and told police that she'd shot a man
She claimed the unnamed victim broke into her home in Aurora and assaulted her associate Kevin Wertin, 27
The victim was not named but police said Strunk had previously been in an 'intimate relationship' with him
Strunk was detained after the shooting but later released
She and Wertin were arrested and charged with attempted murder on Tuesday
Police said they uncovered undisclosed new information that led to the arrests
Colorado is one of 23 states with 'Stand Your Ground' laws protecting homeowners who use deadly force against intruders

Published: 15:34 BST, 4 August 2021 | Updated: 15:34 BST, 4 August 2021

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A Colorado woman who shot an ex-lover she claimed broke into her home has been charged with attempted murder three days later after police uncovered new information on the case.

Emily Strunk, 25, called 911 on Saturday and told police that she'd shot a man who'd barged into her house in Aurora and assaulted her associate, 27-year-old Kevin Wertin.

The victim was not named but police said Strunk had previously been in an 'intimate relationship' with him. He was hospitalized and remains in critical condition.

Strunk was detained after the shooting but later released - until a warrant was issued for her arrest on Tuesday.

Both Strunk and Wertin are now facing charges of first-degree attempted murder.

The Aurora Police Department said investigators discovered additional evidence that led to the arrests - but did not disclose any details about that evidence.

Emily Strunk, 25, (left) and Kevin Wertin, 27, (right) were both charged with first-degree attempted murder on Tuesday, three days after Strunk shot a man she claimed broke into her home in Aurora, Colorado, and assaulted Wertin

Strunk dialed 911 around 12.30am on July 31, telling dispatchers that she had shot a male intruder at her apartment on East 13th Avenue.

The intruder, she told police, had forced his way into her home and attacked Wertin.

After the initial incident, Strunk was released after a brief detainment.

Now, both she and Wertin are in custody, according to Public Information Officer Crystal McCoy.

The relationship between Wertin and Strunk remains unclear.

Aurora's Major Crimes Homicide Unit is currently investigating the incident, and is offering $2,000 to anyone who can offer additional information.

Strunk dialed 911 around 12:30 am on Saturday, telling dispatchers that she had shot a male intruder at her apartment on East 13th Avenue (pictured). The intruder, she told police, had forced his way into her home and attacked Wertin.

Colorado is one of 23 states with castle doctrine laws, also called 'Make My Day' laws and 'Stand Your Ground' laws - which state that homeowners are immune from prosecution if they shoot or use or use force against any individual in their home who they think might use physical force 'no matter how slight'.

Colorado's law was established in 1985, and most recently upheld in June of last year.

The shooter 'must have reason to believe that he or someone else would otherwise suffer serious bodily injury or death' to be covered.

The law does not extend to front porches and backyards.

Fists can be considered deadly weapons warranting deadly force, per the law.

Unlike similar laws in other states, Colorado citizens do not have a 'duty to retreat' according to the law - even if an investigation reveals that they had an opportunity to escape safety without using deadly force they are still granted legal immunity.

Colorado's state supreme court is reviewing the state's so-called 'Make My Day' laws this year.

The high court agreed to reexamine the contours of the law this March after a Colorado Springs man fought second-degree murder charges for shooting an allegedly homeless and belligerent man in the basement of his apartment complex, which was not considered to be his property under the wording of the law.