Two people have been charged with second-degree murder after a woman was killed in an attempted carjacking early Sunday north of Longmont.
According to a release from the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, just after midnight on Sunday, a deputy with the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office tried to stop a vehicle that he suspected of driving under the influence in Larimer County. The vehicle eluded the deputy in the Berthoud area and was last seen driving southbound on Highway 287, near Highway 56, when the deputy stopped pursuing.
The release said that at about 12:30 a.m., the Boulder County Communications Center received a report of a suspicious vehicle that was disabled in the roadway on Highway 287 at Yellowstone Road, north of Longmont in unincorporated Boulder County. It was reported that people were seen running away from the vehicle.
About 10 minutes later, the center received a call from a hospital in Longmont notifying them that they were treating a patient with an apparent gunshot wound. The victim, a 21-year-old woman from the Denver area, was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at the hospital.
The victim’s identity is being withheld pending notification of next of kin, the release said.
Boulder County and Larimer County SWAT searched the area of Highway 287 and Yellowstone Road for suspects from the vehicle that had been left abandoned in the roadway. Deputies were able to locate four suspects in a camper trailer parked on a residential property nearby, and two men and two women were taken into custody without incident.
They were taken to the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office. Through interviews, the sheriff’s office said it was determined that the victim does not appear to be connected to the suspects.
The victim was a passenger in a vehicle being driven by her mother. The sheriff's office said they believe the victim happened across the suspect’s vehicle as it came to a stop near the intersection on Highway 287.
The suspects got out of their disabled vehicle and one shot at the victim’s vehicle with a handgun, striking the victim, in an attempt to carjack them, according to the release.
Three individuals, all Greeley residents, were ultimately arrested and transported to jail.
Martin Cerda, 23, was charged with second degree murder, attempted aggravated robbery, vehicular eluding and possession of a weapon by a previous offender.
Adriana Vargas, 24, was charged with second degree murder, possession of a weapon by a previous offender and several outstanding warrants not associated with the investigation.
Marissa Ruiz, 24, was arrested for several outstanding warrants not associated with the investigation as well.
Investigators added that there is no reason to believe that there is any ongoing threat to the community related to this incident.
