Police say they found two guns in home of Colorado Springs 14-year-old alleged shooter
Celeste Springer
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) — A 14-year-old Colorado Springs boy is in custody after an alleged shooting that killed a 15-year-old girl and injured two others, according to the Aurora Police Department.
Officials in Aurora held a press conference Thursday afternoon, which can be watched below, courtesy of our partners at 9News:
The Aurora Police Department says that the shooting happened early Sunday morning near a fire station located in the 12600 block of East Hoffman Boulevard in Aurora.
During a press conference Thursday, the Aurora Police Department said they believe there was a “pop-up party” in Denver that relocated to the area of the shooting. The department said the “pop-up party” was being live-streamed to social media, encouraging others to come join in. They say they believe a fight broke out, and then the suspect fired into the group at the victims.
Police say the suspect drove up from Colorado Springs with a group, likely to attend the party. They say the group from Colorado Springs was the “initiator of causing problems.”
The police department said they have reason to believe some of the involved teens participate in “girl fight clubs.”
According to officials, firefighters were returning back from a call when they found a 15-year-old girl and a 20-year-old woman shot and started rendering aid. Later, police say they learned that a third victim, a different 15-year-old girl, suffered a graze wound.
“We cannot have, you know, anyone being murdered at the hands of gun violence. But it’s especially shocking when it’s a juvenile,” said Mark Hildebrand of the Aurora Police Department.
Officials said in a release that the 14-year-old suspect faces one count of first-degree murder, 10 counts of attempted murder, and two counts of possession of a handgun related to the shooting.
Aurora Police say a large number of tips started to flood in, leading their suspect search to Colorado Springs. When connecting with the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD), detectives learned CSPD had recently submitted an arrest warrant for the suspect for motor vehicle theft.
Colorado Springs and Aurora police investigators partnered on the investigation. On Wednesday morning, CSPD’s Strategic Investigations Unit served its motor vehicle theft warrant and arrested the suspect.
Police say a search of the suspect’s Colorado Springs home resulted in the recovery of two firearms, 9mm and .380-caliber handguns. The firearms were provided to the Aurora Police Department for ballistics testing in its homicide investigation.
“It is unconscionable to think that a 14-year-old would have access to two firearms and then make the conscious decision to use them against a group of people. And end up, murdering a 15-year-old in the process,” stated Mark Hildebrand of the Aurora Police Department.
Aurora Police say the 10-15 shell casings they found at the scene of the shooting are consistent with the weapons they found in the 14-year-old’s home.
As of Thursday morning, the 14-year-old was being held in the El Paso County Jail, however, the suspect will ultimately be transferred to the Arapahoe County Jail to face charges in Arapahoe Juvenile Court. Formal charges will be filed by the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.