A man from Colorado has been handed a substantial twenty-year prison sentence following a horrifying, hate-fuelled assault where he attempted to murder two women because he perceived them to be lesbians. Vitalie Oprea, aged 47, received his lengthy term this week after admitting guilt to charges of attempted first-degree murder, bringing a measure of closure to a case that has shocked the local community.
A Vicious and Premeditated Assault
The disturbing sequence of events unfolded on February 19, 2023, in Aurora, Colorado. According to official reports from the Arapahoe County District Attorney's Office, Oprea initiated the confrontation after taking his parents' vehicle without consent. Witnesses described how he first began sexually harassing the two women at an intersection, shouting obscenities and making lewd gestures towards them.
His actions rapidly escalated into a terrifying chase. After the women, fearing for their safety, attempted to flee towards a nearby high school, Oprea made a deliberate U-turn and pursued them aggressively. In a reckless manoeuvre, he drove his vehicle over a curb, onto a sidewalk, and across a grassy area adjacent to the school grounds in his determined effort to reach them.
Targeted in Their Vehicle
The victims managed to reach their pickup truck, but Oprea caught up and deliberately struck their vehicle. He then exited his own car, kicked the truck, and forcibly opened the passenger door in a violent attempt to physically drag one of the women out. Both victims, whose identities were protected by authorities, survived the traumatic ordeal but recounted to police that they genuinely believed Oprea was intent on killing them, stating they feared for their lives throughout the attack.
In a chilling statement to police following his arrest, Oprea explicitly admitted his motive, saying, 'I drove at the women because I saw them kissing and they were lesbians and I wanted to kill them.' The women confirmed they had never encountered Oprea prior to this unprovoked assault.
Legal Proceedings and Sentencing
Oprea was apprehended at his residence in Arvada, a city situated outside Denver, later on the same day as the attack. He initially faced a series of serious charges, including:
- Second-degree aggravated assault
- Criminal mischief
- First-degree attempted murder against a non-family member
This week, he accepted a plea deal, pleading guilty to the primary charge of attempted first-degree murder. As a result, he is now scheduled to serve his full twenty-year sentence within the Colorado Department of Corrections. Deputy District Attorney Lauren Agee emphasised that the victims were entirely innocent, stating, 'They were targeted, chased, and left fearing for their lives.'
A Pattern of Violence and a Focus on Hate Crimes
Investigations revealed that Oprea had a prior criminal record, including an arrest for assault in Colorado during 2022. At the time of the 2023 attack, property records indicate he was renting an apartment in Arvada near his parents.
The district attorney's office highlighted the crucial role of its specialised Hate Crimes Team in securing this prosecution. Chief Deputy District Attorney Joel Zink affirmed the office's commitment, noting, '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.' Prosecutor Agee added that such hate-motivated attacks are treated with utmost seriousness, with perpetrators facing significant consequences.
A Broader Context of Violence
This case is a stark reminder of the persistent threat of violence faced by the LGBTQ+ community. While overall violent crime rates in the United States have seen a decline, assaults targeting LGBTQ+ individuals remain alarmingly high, as detailed in the Federal Bureau of Investigation's 2024 annual crime report. The sentencing of Vitalie Oprea stands as a significant legal response to one such brutal, bias-driven crime, underscoring the ongoing need for vigilance and robust prosecution in hate crime cases.
