Man sentenced to prison for fatal shooting at birthday party in Northern Colorado
By Christa Swanson
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COLORADO (KCNC) — A man will spend nearly 30 years in prison after shooting a man at his birthday party in Northern Colorado in 2024.
The Weld County District Attorney’s Office said Ricardo Velado-Contreras was a party celebrating his birthday at a home in the 2400 block of 11th Avenue in Greeley on Jan. 4.
He reportedly confronted Julian Lozano-Pinon about inappropriate contact with his younger brother. Authorities said Lozano-Pinon denied the allegations, and the argument escalated until Velado-Contreras shot him once in the chest.
Police were called to the scene, and Lozano-Pinon was taken to the Northern Colorado Medical Center, where he died of his injuries.
Investigators said alcohol and cocaine were consumed at the party and that Velado-Contreras was showing his handgun to others at the party prior to the shooting.
Velado-Contreras pleaded guilty to second-degree murder last week for Lozano-Pinon’s death. He has been sentenced to 28 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections.
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