ACCORDING TO THE GRAND JUNCTION POLICE DEPARTMENT – Grand Junction, CO.: The Grand Junction Police Department has arrested one suspect in connection with the shooting that happened Saturday, February 20, leaving one dead and three injured.
Israel Isaiah Maestas-Reza, 18, of Fruita, was arrested on an unrelated juvenile parole violation on February 22 and placed at the Grand Mesa Youth Services Center. During Maestas’s incarceration at GMYSC, Detectives with the Grand Junction Police Department continued to work on the homicide investigation and obtained an arrest warrant on February 24. He was remanded to the Mesa County Detection Facility on the following charges:
- Murder in the first degree (F1)
- Murder in the second degree (F2)
- Three counts of attempted murder in the first degree (F2)
- Three counts of attempted murder in the second degree (F2)
- Illegal discharge of a firearm (F5)
- Tampering with a witness or victim (F4)
- Attempt to influence a public servant (F4)
- Possession of weapons by previous offender (F5)
The arrest warrant in this case has been sealed by the court and no further details are available for release. No booking photo of the suspect is available at this time.
The Grand Junction Police Department continues to ask that if you have information regarding the incident, you know other individuals who may have been involved, or you have surveillance footage from around the 1000 block of Teller Avenue that would help aid in the investigation, to please call non-emergency dispatch at 970-242-6707 as soon as possible.
The original incident is detailed below:
Beginning at approximately 12:17am on Saturday, February 20, the Grand Junction Regional Communication Center received several 9-1-1 calls regarding shots being fired at a residence in the 1000 Block of Teller Avenue. Reporting parties stated that unknown suspects fired shots into the house and several victims were injured.
Officers with the Grand Junction Police Department began arriving on scene within minutes. Multiple adult victims were located in the house with apparent gunshot wounds, with injuries ranging in severity. Three victims were transported to the hospital for medical treatment by the Grand Junction Fire Department. One victim died at the scene. When officers arrived, the suspect(s) were no longer on scene.
While the circumstances surrounding this incident remain under investigation, at this time, officers believe this to be a targeted incident and they are pursuing leads based on information provided by witnesses. One subject was detained by the Colorado State Patrol and transported to the police department to be interviewed. At this time, it is unknown how many suspects were involved. The Mesa County Coroner’s Office will be responsible for releasing the identity of the deceased after appropriate notifications have been made.
Residents of the 1000 Block of Teller Avenue should expect to see a presence of law enforcement for several hours as the scene is processed and evidence is collected. Traffic in the area may be rerouted during the investigation. Detectives will continue to conduct interviews with multiple witnesses to develop a clearer picture of the circumstances surrounding this incident. Anyone with information is urged to call non-emergency dispatch at 970-242-6707. Additionally, if anyone believes they may have captured any part of this crime on home surveillance or doorbell cameras, please contact the police department.