Man killed during Xbox sale

Wife believes slain husband saved her life by confronting would-be robber

An Evergreen man shot and killed in Aurora on Halloween was attempting to sell an Xbox to a teen who contacted him online when the teen opened fire, the victim’s wife said.

Jacob Clymer, 32, died Oct. 31 after the daytime shooting in north Aurora. And his wife, Miranda Clymer, believes he saved her life that day.

The Clymers met the prospective buyer who agreed via Facebook to purchase the console and some games for $250, Miranda Clymer said.

When they arrived at the location near Fitzsimmon Junction Apartments, the buyer pulled out a gun and told the couple to hand over the machine, Miranda Clymer said. Jacob then pulled out his own gun and told the buyer, “Let’s not do this,” she said.

The buyer then fired multiple shots, she said. Jacob fell to the ground, bleeding.

In a panic, Miranda attempted to save his life but didn’t know what to do because she couldn’t find the bullet wounds. She tried to keep him awake and watched the buyer run away.

She sat her husband up, and then laid him on his side so he wouldn’t choke on his blood, she said.

The would-be robber did not take the Xbox with him, she said.

Jacob Clymer was pronounced dead at a local hospital that afternoon. The stay-at-home dad leaves behind his wife and three young children — two daughters andason.

Miranda Clymer said her husband drew the shooter’s attention away from her and saved her life.

“He was a hero in my eyes and always will be,” she said.

Aurora police arrested a 15year-old boy on suspicion of firstdegree murder in the Oct. 31 shooting. Police did not release the suspect’s name or photograph because he is a minor.

The teen appeared Wednesday for an initial hearing in juvenile court where the charges against him were read, Sue Lindsay, spokeswoman for the 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, said. The boy faces two juvenile counts of first-degree murder, a count of attempting to commit aggravated robbery and a charge of menacing, she said.

Because of the teen’s age, prosecutors cannot immediately file charges against the suspect in adult court but could later decide to have a hearing to determine the issue, Lindsay said. He is next expected to appear in court Jan. 3 for a status conference.

Jacob Clymer was a teddy bear of a man, his wife said. He recently agreed to stay home with the

kids to allow Miranda to work, she said.

“He considered himself rich because of the people and family in his life,” she said.

At family gatherings, he often spent more time playing with the kids on the floor than chatting with the adults, his uncle Tom Hancock said.

Jacob loved working on cars, especially Audis and Subarus, and loved the mountains of his native Evergreen. He often gave his possessions to people experiencing homelessness, his wife said.

Jacob was cremated and friends and family gathered to celebrate his life on Sunday, Miranda Clymer said. His ashes will be interred with his father’s remains at a later date, she said.

Jacob wouldn’t want to see his family grieving, his wife said. He lived true to one of his life mottoes, she said, one he had tattooed on his left arm: “I’d rather die for what I believe in than live a life without meaning.”

“He died protecting his wife,” Miranda Clymer said. “He always put his family first.”