A husband and wife are recovering after being shot inside their own Denver home during an armed robbery in August, and police say two men have now been arrested while three more suspects remain unaccounted for. Denver police responded to a report of a shooting at a home in the 2600 block of West 40th Avenue at 4:04 p.m. on Aug. 11, according to a police release. Officers found an adult man and an adult woman who had been shot inside the residence, and both survived their injuries, according to police.
According to the Denver Gazette, police say five unknown suspects entered the home and robbed and shot the victims, who appeared to be operating an in-home jewelry store, according to an arrest affidavit reported by 9News. The shooting remained under investigation. Witnesses reported seeing multiple suspects flee the scene in a vehicle.
How Detectives Zeroed In on Two Suspects
Police obtained an arrest warrant for 22-year-old Willimir Jose Colmenares-Garcia, according to 9News's report on the affidavit. The suspect vehicle seen fleeing the residence led detectives to Colmenares-Garcia. A victim identified Colmenares-Garcia in a photographic lineup as one of the shooters, while investigators determined 20-year-old Josmer Hernandez-Morillo was present during the shooting, per the same affidavit. A cellphone allegedly left behind by a suspect at the scene also helped connect the men to the crime, according to the arrest affidavit.
Investigators leaned on more than just physical evidence left behind. Surveillance footage and photo lineups helped detectives identify the men, according to the affidavit. These materials helped detectives track down both men, per the affidavit.
Charges Sought and What Comes Next
Police took Colmenares-Garcia and Hernandez-Morillo into custody, and both were being held for investigation of aggravated robbery and attempted murder as of Tuesday. The investigation is continuing, and the Denver District Attorney's Office will make the final determination regarding charges. Hernandez-Morillo was reportedly present during the shooting, per the investigation, and police say he has been linked to several other robbery cases.
Under Colorado Revised Statutes § 18-2-101, attempted first-degree murder carries a presumptive prison sentence of eight to 24 years, which can increase up to 48 years under extraordinary aggravating circumstances. Separately, a conviction under Colorado Revised Statutes § 18-4-302(1)(b) classified as a crime of violence carries mandatory prison terms ranging from 10 to 32 years, per Rights & Liberties Law Firm.
Three Suspects Still Not Identified
The investigation remains ongoing as detectives search for the three remaining suspects believed to have taken part in the break-in, per the police release. Anyone with information is asked to call Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at (720) 913-7867.
According to the City and County of Denver's 2023 Annual Report, Denver saw a 1.31% decrease in total crime compared with 2022, while violent crime declined by 3.36%. According to the City and County of Denver Department of Public Safety's 2024 Annual Report, reported violent gun crime decreased by 9.2% across the six PNI locations compared with 2023.
The case remains under investigation, according to police.
