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Man Accused In Shooting Spree Appears 'Person Of Interest' In Wife's Murder

AURORA, Colo. (CBS4) – The man police claim went on a crime spree in Aurora over the weekend and is a person of interest in his wife's death, appeared before a judge on Wednesday.

Police say James Anthony Draper is a person of interest in his wife's murder on Saturday. Ashley Ross Draper was found dead inside her apartment on Memphis Way.

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A vigil will be held at the apartment 7 p.m. Wednesday. Rus Cordova is putting on that vigil and says he misses his friend, Ashley.

"Why did such a kind-hearted, beautiful souled person have to get such an untimely end?" said Cordova.

He started a GoFundMe page to help Ashley's family now raise the two children she leaves behind, ages 10 and 2. He says the children are struggling.

"They want to go home," he said. "They can't accept the news; they're having trouble just accepting and understand what happened to their momma."

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James Anthony Draper (credit: CBS)

James Draper, 33, has been accused of stealing a car near East Colfax Avenue and Beeler Street, and then he allegedly went on a shooting spree and led officers on a chase through Denver and Aurora which ended at Colfax and Yosemite.

Draper was arrested on Sunday afternoon after he allegedly carjacked a woman at gunpoint and then went on a shooting spree in Aurora.

Investigators say he fired his gun in four different locations and at times targeted innocent bystanders.

When officers caught up with him, he allegedly pointed a loaded gun at them and that's when the chase began. Police believe he was under the influence of drugs.

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(credit: CBS)

Draper remains a person of interest in the shooting death of his wife, Ashley. The 29-year-old was found shot to death in her apartment on Saturday.

The hearing for Draper in Arapahoe County Court focused on the events involving police, the gunfire and carjacking. He will be formally charged with attempted murder and aggravated robbery for those events on Thursday. He has not been arrested or charged in connection with Ashley's murder.

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(credit: CBS)

Despite that fact, Ashley's family was in court for the proceedings. They have established a GoFundMe page in her memory.

Draper has a long criminal history including seven prior felony convictions. He remains in custody on $300,000 bond.

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