A late-night parking lot confrontation at a Colorado Springs shopping center has turned deadly, after a 15-year-old girl shot in the Astrozon Plaza area earlier this month died from her injuries, police said Monday.
The teenager was wounded around 3 a.m. on March 3 in the parking lot off South Academy Boulevard and died on March 7.
Colorado Springs police have arrested 32-year-old Alexious Barben-Wright and 21-year-old Alyssa Jaramillo in connection with the killing, according to a police news release and court records. Before the victim’s death, both women had been charged with four counts of attempted first-degree murder, and Jaramillo also faced multiple counts of menacing, Colorado Springs Gazette reports.
What arrest paperwork alleges
Court affidavits and witness statements paint a chaotic scene in the moments before the gunfire.
Investigators say Barben-Wright climbed into a sedan carrying four teenage girls, hit one of the occupants, and then fired a gun. Witnesses also told detectives that Jaramillo passed a handgun to her sister-in-law before the shots were fired, according to the paperwork.
Detectives cited both video footage and eyewitness accounts, some of which conflicted with one another, in the affidavit. Officers recovered two 9-millimeter shell casings at the scene, KRDO reported.
Identity protections and next steps
Police said the El Paso County Coroner’s Office will determine the cause and manner of death. Officials are withholding the girl’s name under Colorado’s “Riley’s Law,” a statute that took effect in 2024 to shield the identities of young crime victims and some witnesses.
The coroner’s role in the case was noted by the Colorado Springs Gazette, while KOAA has previously outlined the protections provided under Riley’s Law.
Court schedule and legal implications
Prosecutors are expected to review the coroner’s findings and all investigative evidence before deciding whether to modify or formalize charges against Barben-Wright and Jaramillo. The case is proceeding in the Fourth Judicial District, which serves El Paso County.
Public records show the matter on the county court calendar as pretrial proceedings continue. Hearings are being held at the El Paso County Judicial Building, the main courthouse for the district, according to the Colorado Judicial Branch.
Neighbors and businesses shaken
Merchants in Astrozon Plaza say the shooting rattled the shopping center and briefly shut down some businesses while detectives combed the lot for evidence. Surveillance video from a nearby after-hours club was handed over to investigators, and some residents told reporters they are now wary of visiting the area after dark.
The immediate aftermath, including a heavy police presence and blocked-off parking areas, was covered by KKTV.
Investigators have asked anyone with information to contact the Colorado Springs Police Department at (719) 444-7000. Anonymous tips can be submitted to Crime Stoppers at (719) 634-7867. Officers were continuing to pursue video and witness leads as the case advanced toward court, KRDO reported.
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