Three arrested in shooting death of Monte Vista juvenile

MONTE VISTA– Two juvenile females and a 21-year-old Monte Vista man have been arrested in the fatal shooting of another juvenile female on Sunday.

Officers with the Monte Vista Police Department (MVPD) were notified of a shooting in the 300 block of Monroe Street about 3:30 p.m. Sunday where they found the female who had sustained a gunshot wound and was pronounced deceased by EMS personnel.

After an extensive investigation, MVPD Chief George Dingfelder said, after reviewing evidence and conducting many interviews, police detectives established probable cause Thursday which resulted in arrest warrants for three individuals related to the tragic death of the victim.

Two juvenile females were arrested for Reckless Manslaughter, C.R.S. § 18-3-104(1)(a), and Possession of Handgun by Juveniles C.R.S. 18-12-108.5(1)(a) and will be held at the Pueblo Youth Detention Center.

Emiliano Vargas, 21, Monte Vista, who was the owner of the gun, was also arrested for Secure Firearm Storage Required, C.R.S. § 18-12-114(2)(a)(I), and Unlawfully

Providing or Permitting a Juvenile to Possess a Handgun C.R.S. 18-12-108.7(1)(a). He was booked into the Rio Grande County Jail.

“We remind the public that a new law went into effect in July, which requires firearms to be properly and safely secured to prevent access by juveniles,” Dingfelder wrote in a news release. A link to the law can be found here: Gun Storage Law

All persons are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.  Since arrests have been made, further information regarding this investigation will be handled by the 12th Judicial District Attorney’s Office who will be prosecuting the case.


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