Pueblo police have apprehended a juvenile suspect in relation to the June shooting death of Marcos Colunga-Gaona. The suspect, whose name has not been disclosed due to their age, was arrested without incident and charged with second-degree murder. Colunga-Gaona’s death marks the 12th homicide in Pueblo in 2023, with a total of 22 homicides reported in the city and 24 throughout Pueblo County this year. Justin Reutter reported
A juvenile has been apprehended by Pueblo police in relation to the fatal shooting of 25-year-old Marcos Colunga-Gaona in June. The police have not disclosed the name of the juvenile due to their age. The arrest of the male juvenile was made without any incident, and he has been suspected of second-degree murder. On June 28, at approximately 8:19 p.m., officers were called to the scene of a shooting on Lambert Avenue and West 17th Street. They found Colunga-Gaona lying on the ground with gunshot wounds. Colunga-Gaona’s death marked the 12th homicide in Pueblo for the year 2023. In total, there have been 22 homicides reported in the city and 24 in Pueblo County this year..
Pueblo police have taken a juvenile into custody regarding the tragic shooting that resulted in the death of 25-year-old Marcos Colunga-Gaona back in June. Due to the suspect’s age, their identity has not been released by law enforcement. The arrest of the juvenile male occurred without any complications and they are currently being held on suspicion of second-degree murder, as announced by the police on Thursday morning.
The incident took place at approximately 8:19 p.m. on June 28 when officers were dispatched to Lambert Avenue and West 17th Street following reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, they discovered Colunga-Gaona lying on the ground with visible gunshot wounds. Sadly, his death marked the 12th homicide recorded in Pueblo in 2023. The city has now experienced a total of 22 homicides, with Pueblo County witnessing a total of 24 homicides this year.
To provide further context on the other homicides in Pueblo County, a list of incidents has been compiled. These include the tragic death of an unnamed 2-year-old child on January 31, where Mythia Latka, the child’s 23-year-old mother, has been charged with child abuse causing death. Heather Duran, a 34-year-old woman, was fatally shot on February 24, with Francisco Ruiz facing charges of first-degree murder in relation to her death. On the same day, 79-year-old Fred Ettleman was killed in a shooting at King Soopers, though no suspects have been publicly identified in his case. Another victim, Joseph Vigil, 38, lost his life to a late-night shooting on March 4, and suspects Pablo Carillo and Mario Valenzuela have been identified by the police. Carillo was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, while Valenzuela passed away on April 6 for reasons not disclosed by the county coroner.
The list of homicides continues with the killing of 17-year-old Sancho Xavier Sierra on April 3, along with three women who were also injured in the same shooting. No suspects have been named yet. Scottie Sanders, 28, was found dead on April 24, with no identified suspects or cause of death released by the coroner. Daedriean Ortega-Brisco, 19, was discovered dead with apparent gunshot wounds on May 9, and no suspects have been named in his case. Joshua Specht, 42, was found dead in the yard of a residence on May 22 after reports of shots fired and a motorcycle crash. No suspects have been identified in his case either.
On June 11, Michael Anthony Sandoval, 28, was found dead following a shooting, leading to the arrest of Edgar Earl Darden on murder charges. Jordan Robinson was discovered deceased in a vehicle on June 19, with no suspects named. Russel Edward Kuklies, 40, lost his life on June 27 at the Val-U-Stay Inn and Suites, and police are seeking assistance in identifying the suspects involved. Marcos Colunga-Gaona, 25, was found unresponsive with a gunshot wound on June 28, resulting in the recent arrest of a juvenile suspect for second-degree murder. Lazarus Vigil, an adult male, was found inside a vehicle with gunshot wounds on the same day, and a 13-year-old suspect, whose name has not been released, has been arrested in connection with his death.
Sabino Loya-Armendariz, 25, was found dead with gunshot wounds on July 3, and no arrests have been made in his case. Marcos Baca, 29, was killed on July 4, and his uncle, William Montoya, has been charged with first-degree murder after admitting to the shooting. Vincent Smith was shot and killed on July 24 outside his home, leading to the arrest of Russell Martinez. An unnamed teenager was found dead in the City Park skate park on July 25, and no arrests have been made. Franklin Bruner, who was shot and killed on July 29, had his dog also shot during the incident. Robert James Rudichar was arrested on July 31 for first-degree murder in connection with Bruner’s death. Larry Derrick Maes was found dead with a gunshot wound in Pueblo West on August 4, and no suspects have been identified. Keith Quinn, 38, was discovered dead in a parking lot on August 13, and no suspects have been named. Jason Trujillo was fatally shot on August 24 during a multi-victim shooting, with no suspects identified. Franky Montoya, 34, was shot multiple times on August 30, and no arrests have been made. Christopher Salazar, 29, was shot and killed on September 21, allegedly by Steven Vigil, who has been charged with second-degree murder. Oliveah Fransua, a 14-year-old girl, was shot and killed on November 1, allegedly by her 15-year-old boyfriend, but no arrests have been reported.
For any inquiries, comments, or tips related to these cases, you can contact Justin at jreutterma@gannett.com. Stay updated by following him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @jayreutter1. Support local journalism by subscribing to the Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com..