On June 13, a Weld County Judge sentenced Efren Sanchez to 1,016 years in prison for firing 28 rounds of gunfire at Rancho El Corazon on August 13, 2022. In April, a jury found Sanchez guilty of 52 charges, including 25 counts of criminal attempt to commit murder in the first degree — after deliberation, and 25 counts of criminal attempt to commit murder in the first degree — extreme indifference.
Sanchez was at the bar with his wife the night of the incident and felt “disrespected” by a man who was playing pool with his wife. Security footage shows the two men arguing before Sanchez left the bar with his wife at about 10:30 p.m.
Sanchez returned to the bar with a rifle shortly after and started firing shots at people outside of the bar. He also began firing rounds into the bar while standing outside the building. There were 25 people inside and outside the bar that night. There were two people who were hit with bullets; they were taken to the hospital and survived the incident.
Sanchez also was charged with two counts of a “Crime of Violence,” which is a sentence enhancer for the injuries caused to the two victims who were struck by the bullets.
“He shot bullet after bullet, causing panic and pain,” Chief Deputy District Attorney Michael Pirraglia said during the trial’s closing arguments. “These are innocent victims with forever reminders of the defendant’s actions.”
