Commerce City Shooting Leaves One Dead, Two Injured
A 21-year-old man has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with a fatal shooting in Commerce City, Colorado, that left one dead and two injured. Ethan Jennings, 21, allegedly opened fire into a house after a friend got into a fistfight with the victims, according to police.
Investigation and Arrests
Specific Location and Victim Information
The shooting occurred on September 6 in the 7300 block of Oneida Drive, near Colorado Highway 2 and 74th Avenue. Makayla Lawrence, 20, was killed, and two others were injured, including a man who was critically injured but is expected to survive, and a woman who suffered a non-life-threatening injury.
Investigation Reveals Fistfight Led to Shooting
According to the affidavit, the shooting happened after Jacob Shull and his wife, Jacqueline Esquibel, got into a fist-fight with Maestas at a Commerce City home. The couple had been at the home earlier that day to check on a friend, and the fight eventually involved Justin Shull. When the three victims tried to leave the house, they were struck by gunfire, and Lawrence was killed.
Suspects Arrested After High-Speed Chase
Police say surveillance footage showed a white truck leaving the scene, which was later determined to be stolen. Maestas allegedly struck an officer while attempting to flee in a stolen sedan, and Justin Shull led police on a high-speed chase before crashing. Jennings and Justin Shull then ran into a drainage culvert, where they left a disassembled 9mm firearm and two smashed cellphones.
Neighbors of Commerce City Community React
Community Concerns About Crime Rate
The community is concerned about the high crime rate in the area, with one resident, Dee Garza, expressing concerns about the lack of police patrolling. "A lot of crime happening right here in the area, right in our backyard, and I think that one of the biggest concerns is the kids. I’m a teacher, so a lot of kids live here in the neighborhood. They walk by here, and we don’t see a lot of patrolling of the police, so that’s a huge concern," Garza said.
Unintended Target
According to the DA's office, detectives believe Lawrence was an unintended target and was not involved in any type of altercation.