Former High School Football Standout Arrested in Connection with Topeka Murder of a Naval Veteran

A recent Seaman High School graduate and former varsity football player has been arrested in connection with the July killing of 28-year-old Navy veteran Destiny “Dustin” Voss, marking Topeka’s ninth homicide of 2025.

Arrest and Charges

Authorities announced that Aaron Kelmetrius Hurla, 18, was taken into custody on October 14 following a months-long investigation into the fatal shooting that occurred during an alleged robbery attempt in southwest Topeka.

According to the Shawnee County Department of Corrections, Hurla faces multiple felony charges, including:

• First-degree murder committed during the commission of a felony
• Aggravated robbery with a dangerous weapon
• Two counts of criminal discharge of a firearm at an occupied vehicle, one resulting in bodily harm
• Distribution of certain depressants

Hurla is currently being held without bond in the Shawnee County Jail. His arrest is the latest development in a joint investigation conducted by the Topeka Police Department and the Shawnee County District Attorney’s Office.

From Friday Night Lights to Facing Life in Prison

Hurla was once celebrated as a talented young athlete at Seaman High School, where he played on the Vikings’ varsity football team through the 2022–2023 seasons. Known for his physicality on defense and competitive drive, Hurla had been regarded as one of the program’s rising players.

His abrupt fall from a promising student-athlete to a murder suspect has shocked former teammates, coaches, and community members who remember him for his time under the Friday night lights. Court documents show no attorney has yet been assigned to represent him.

The Fatal Night

Police say the deadly shooting took place around 11:30 p.m. on July 6, 2025, in the 3200 block of S.W. Randolph Avenue. According to investigators, Voss was shot during an attempted robbery and later died from his injuries at a local hospital.

Gunfire from that night reportedly struck nearby homes and a vehicle, endangering others in the area.

Second Suspect in Custody

Hurla’s arrest follows that of Avant Allen Chambers, 18, another Topeka teen charged in the same case. Chambers faces charges of first-degree murder, attempted aggravated robbery, criminal discharge of a firearm, and drug-related offenses. He remains in custody on a $1 million bond and is set to appear in court on November 24.

Remembering the Victim

Destiny “Dustin” C. Voss, the victim, was a U.S. Navy veteran, husband, and father of three. Friends describe him as a devoted family man and a proud servicemember. Voss was laid to rest with full military honors at Leavenworth National Cemetery on July 16.

Authorities have not disclosed further details about the motive or how Hurla became involved in the case, but the investigation remains active.