An overnight shooting left one person dead and another injured, and police have taken the suspect into custody, according to the Castle Rock Police Department.
The shooting occurred at about 1 a.m. Nov. 29 at an apartment complex near Castle Rock Parkway and Castlegate Drive West, according to police.
That’s in the northwest part of Castle Rock, northwest of the Interstate 25 and U.S. Highway 85 interchange.
The two victims were shot after an alleged fight in a parking lot, according to a news release from Castle Rock police.
The person who survived was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to the news release.
The identity of the deceased victim was to be released by the Douglas County Coroner’s Office.
The suspect fled the scene of the shooting, but “further investigation and interviews” allowed officers to identify him and his whereabouts, the news release said. At about 10 a.m., police located the suspect in a vehicle at the intersection of Wilcox and South streets in the downtown Castle Rock area, according to the news release.
“He was taken into custody without incident, and there is no threat to the public,” police said in the news release.
Police believe the suspect was known to the victims, according to Castle Rock police statements on social media. Investigators are looking into the relationship between the suspect and the victims, the news release said.
Police identified the suspect as 20-year-old Miguel Mercado of Castle Rock. Police intend to charge Mercado with “numerous felonies” including second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder, the news release said.
The formal filing of charges, or alleged crimes, was to be determined by the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, the news release said. That’s the DA’s office for Arapahoe, Douglas, Elbert and Lincoln counties.
Police are asking anyone who witnessed the incident or anyone with more information to contact the Castle Rock police tip line at 720-733-3517 or email CrimeTips@CRgov.com.
