A suspect is in custody following an overnight shooting that left one person dead and another injured.
The Castle Rock Police Department was dispatched to an apartment community in the area of Castle Rock Parkway and Castlegate Drive West shortly after 1 a.m. on reports of a shooting. The investigation revealed two people were shot following a fight in a parking lot. One person died and a second victim was transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The identity of the deceased victim will be released by the Douglas County Coroner’s Office.
The suspect initially fled the scene but further investigation and interviews allowed officers to identify him and his whereabouts. Just after 10 a.m., CRPD located the suspect in a vehicle at the intersection of Wilcox and South Street in Downtown Castle Rock. He was taken into custody without incident, and there is no threat to the public.
The suspect has been identified as 20-year-old Miguel Mercado of Castle Rock (pictured below). Investigators are looking into the relationship between Mercado and the victims.
The Castle Rock Police Department will charge Mercado with numerous felonies to include 2nd Degree Murder and Attempted 2nd Degree Murder. The formal filing of charges will be determined by the District Attorney’s Office of the 18th Judicial District.
Anyone who witnessed this incident or can provide investigators with additional details is asked to contact the Castle Rock Police Department’s tip line at 720-733-3517 or CrimeTips@CRgov.com.
This remains an active and on-going investigation. No additional information will be released at this time.
**This press released was edited at 7:05 p.m. to include a booking photo of Miguel Mercado.
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