El Paso County, reeling from a January shooting that left one dead and others injured, has been under the heavy gaze of both law enforcement and the local community, suffused with grim anticipation. Patrol deputies with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office who first responded to the incident back in January were met with a sobering scene: three individuals at a residence on Dove Creek Circle suffering from gunshot wounds, according to the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office.
Despite the quick actions of deputies and the ensuing support from the Security Fire Department, 19-year-old Jonah Thirkill was pronounced dead at the scene. This prompted the Sheriff's Office Investigations Division to dive into a homicide investigation that has spanned the past few months, with twists and questions that clawed at the peace of the neighborhood.
The investigation's persistence paid off when warrants were issued for the arrest of five individuals believed to be involved in the incident. This past week, an operation spearheaded by the Violent Offender Fugitive Task Force and the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office SWAT Team resulted in the apprehension of four suspects: 18-year-old Ami Gallegos, 20-year-old Noah Watkins, and two minors, as reported by the El Paso County Sheriff's Office.
Today, Alexander Tilmon, the final suspect tied to the Dove Creek Circle homicide, turned himself in. "He was booked into the El Paso County Jail on the following charges: 18-3-103 (1)(b) Murder in the Second Degree, Felony 2, One Count; 18-4-302 (1)(c) Aggravated Robbery, Felony 3, Five Counts; 18-2-101 (1) Criminal Attempt, Murder in the Second Degree, Felony 3, Two Counts; 18-3-202 (1)(c) Assault in the First Degree, Felony 3, Two Counts; 18-3-206 Menacing, Felony 5, Five Counts; 18-12-106 (1)(a) Prohibited Use of Weapons, Misdemeanor 1, One Count; 18-4-401 (1)(a)(2)(c), Theft, Misdemeanor 2, One count," according to the El Paso County Sheriff's Office. His bond is currently set at $500,000.
The community awaits further developments, hopeful for closure, yet disquieted by the violence that shook Dove Creek Circle. With the final suspect in custody, the Sheriff’s Office continues to piece together what happened on that harrowing January day, determined to provide answers and justice for the victims and their families.
