BEULAH – Two men were arrested for attempted second-degree murder after deputies say they shot a newspaper delivery man who they thought was a burglar.

The Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office arrested 30-year-old Theodore Thurman and 27-year-old Henry Thurman after the shooting early Friday morning.

Locals shared that in the last few weeks there’s been several thefts in the town and it’s put people on edge.

Caren Ermel said, “Cars are being stolen. Things are being stolen out of yards.”

Ermel said the quiet valley rarely sees crime, but that’s changed in the last month.

“We had a little spree over the last couple weeks where there have been some thefts happening in the middle of the night.”

It’s led some people to take matters into their own hands.

Fellow resident Debbie Rose said, “I believe everyone is in shock that something would happen in this peaceful community.”

Deputies said Friday’s incident happened sometime before 3:45 a.m. when a man living in the 9000 block of Pine Avenue said a vehicle pulled up in front of their home. The man, who had previously been the victim of theft, thought the suspects had returned to his home. He reported that he heard shots fired and saw the vehicle drive away from the area.

That’s when the man contacted his neighbors, who began driving around the area looking for the vehicle. Those neighbors, later identified as Theodore and Henry Thurman, shot at a car they thought was the suspect’s vehicle. Instead, they hit the man who was driving and helping a passenger in the vehicle deliver newspapers. The man suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

The Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office said the suspicious vehicle was not found.

Rose said, “When something like this occurs we’re all speechless.”

She said her heart goes out to everyone involved.

“What my plea is, is the sheriff’s department really puts some energy and effort into resolving what started the situation.”

Theodore Thurman and Henry Thurman were both booked into the Pueblo County Jail on suspicion of attempted second-degree murder, menacing and second-degree assault.

The Pueblo County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement, “Citizens are encouraged to not place themselves in undue risk but call the Sheriff’s Office if they see or encounter anything suspicious.”

This is an ongoing investigation. In the meantime, Ermel said Beulah will be starting its own Neighborhood Watch program. A meeting will be held at the community center in town on Tuesday, April 9 at 7 p.m.