Homicides in Colorado Springs: Remembering the victims of 2022

Nick Sullivan, The Gazette (Colorado Springs, Colo.)

January 25, 2023 at 11:59 PM·14 min read

Jan. 25—JANUARY

Marcus Venezio-Hernandez, 13

Summit Creek Apartments, 1940 South Chelton Road

Jan. 9, 2022

Venezio-Hernandez, 13, of Pueblo, was respectful and humble, and always "stood up for other kids," according to his obituary. Loved ones recalled his positive energy and infectious smile.

Nevean Tafoya, 15

Summit Creek Apartments, 1940 South Chelton Road

Jan. 9, 2022

Tafoya, 15, of Pueblo, was described by family members and friends as a sarcastic, loving and protective brother, and the "best son ever."

Sergio Suarez Gonzalez, 33

El Campesino, 2355 East Platte Place

Jan. 10, 2022

Emily Canales, 5

3155 Woodland Hills Drive Apt. 920

Jan. 13, 2022

Canales lived in Colorado Springs with her mother, who, along with her boyfriend, is accused of first-degree murder. Canales' father lives in El Paso, Texas, and started a GoFundMe to bring Emily's body to Texas.

Kristopher Wilson, 41

MLK Bypass between Union Boulevard and Circle Drive

Jan. 20, 2022

Brian MacDonald, 42

200 block of Nichols Boulevard

Jan. 21, 2022

MacDonald was "super enthusiastic about his work," according to one of his former interns, and had great sales instincts as a natural people-person. He had a wife and several children. MacDonald was shot and killed while working a shift as a taxi driver.

Justin Hall, 33

2700 block of Bentley Point

Jan. 29, 2022

Hall was a former member of the United States military who had previously spent time in Afghanistan and Germany and was originally from Las Vegas, Nev., according to social media posts. Hall was shot and killed in south Colorado Springs.

FEBRUARY

Lizet Salinas-Mijangos, 26

3200 block of Heather Glen Drive

Feb. 1, 2022

Salinas-Mijangos was an exceptional mother who tried her best in caring for her children, according to her obituary. Salinas-Mijangos was shot and killed alongside her baby boy.

George Weingarten, 0

3200 block of Heather Glen Drive

Feb. 1, 2022

Weingarten started every day with a smile for his mother, according to his obituary. He was less than one year old when he was shot and killed alongside his mother.

Andrew Dominguez, 56

7-Eleven, 503 South Nevada Avenue

Feb. 2, 2022

Daisha Fry, 41

6600 Bugle Drive

Feb. 8, 2022

Fry was bright, loving, kind and full of light, according to a cousin Danyse Johnson in an interview with KRDO. A mother of three, she was selflessly devoted to all of the people in her life. Fry was killed inside her North Colorado Springs home.

Daxcimo Ceja, 48

317 West Harrison Street

Feb. 16, 2022

Ceja likely died in a shooting, a witness in a court proceeding said. He was a Colorado Springs resident who previously lived in Yuba City, California.

Nicole Vasquez, 30

4700 block of Live Oak Drive

Feb. 18, 2022

Vasquez was "an amazing woman with a heart of gold" who could light up any room, according to her obituary. She was at the top of her class at Capella University, from where she would have graduated in May 2022 with her master's in psychology. Vasquez was shot and killed in a murder-suicide.

Gilberto Barajas, 39

2500 block of East Uintah Street

Feb. 20, 2022

MARCH

James Gregory, 39

200 block of North Circle Drive

March 7, 2022

Gregory was an Army Veteran who served in the Iraq War. He left behind a spouse and five children. Gregory was wanted in Mississippi for attempted murder at the time he was shot and killed by Colorado Springs police.

Tryvone Brooks, 24

1200 block of East Columbia Street

March 22, 2022

Brooks left behind at least one child. His girlfriend, Raquel Chamberlain, was arrested on suspicion of shooting him. A police affidavit described their relationship as abusive. Two days before the shooting, Brooks assaulted Chamberlain, the document said.

Jeremiah Brown, 20

The Citadel mall, 760 Citadel Drive East

March 25, 2022

Brown was a hard worker who made sure to provide for his family, including his fiancé and two young children, according to his obituary. He was "always stylin'" and matching his clothes and was "inseparable" from his twin brother. Brown was shot and killed outside the Citadel Mall.

Matthew Westrich, 21

The Citadel mall, 760 Citadel Drive East

March 25, 2022

Westrich was an aspiring rapper, who left behind a young daughter, now 3. His mom remembered him as beloved by friends who have memorialized him in tattoos and a rap song. Westrich died in a shooting at the Citadel Mall.

APRIL

Diego Martinez, 22

Airport Road and South Murray Boulevard

April 25, 2022

Martinez was one of four victims believed to have been shot by the same man last April. Carlos Diaz is facing first degree murder charges in Martinez's death. Diaz had theft and drug-related disputes involving Martinez.

MAY

Charles Slabaugh, 59

200 block of East Arvada Street

May 13, 2022

Slabaugh was from Commerce City and worked as a painter, according to his Facebook page. He was stabbed to death inside an apartment.

Abigail Miller, 32

Rampart Park, 7850 North Union Boulevard

May 14, 2022

Miller lived most of her life in Dayton, Ohio, before she decided to move across the country for work as a landscaper at a Colorado brewery, according to a friend's interview with Fox21. Miller was clever, witty, talented and hardworking, her father told Dayton TV station WDTN. Miller was shot in a random act of violence six days after arriving in Colorado Springs.

Malaya Leary, 18

3000 block of Mallard Drive

May 21, 2022

Leary was compassionate and loved wholeheartedly, never judging anybody, her mom said in an interview with KRDO. She had dreams of opening an animal shelter or becoming a veterinarian. Leary was killed in an accidental shooting.

Montaries Jennings, 19

Woody's Bar & Grill, 2881 East Pikes Peak Avenue

May 28, 2022

Jennings was the "light of his family" and was deeply devoted to protecting them, especially his nieces and nephews, his mother Tameka Totten said. He'd wake up early to help his friends finish schoolwork. His desire to protect inspired his plans to enlist in the military and serve the country after graduating high school. Jennings was caught in the crossfire of a dispute unrelated to him at Woody's Bar and Grill.

JUNE

Hoani Bartlett, 19

4400 block of Burton Way

June 1, 2022

Bartlett was a recent high school graduate from Castle Rock who was working full-time to support his fiancé, whom he was planning to marry in December of last year, and his infant son. Bartlett's sister said he was a huge fan of music, specifically rap, and also enjoyed writing poetry in his free time. Bartlett was shot and killed in eastern Colorado Springs.

Riley Whitelaw, 17

Walgreens,

6820 Centennial Boulevard

June 11, 2022

Whitelaw was a student at Air Academy High School who "was wise beyond her years" even from a young age, according to her obituary, and could fit in as easily with a room full of conversing adults as with a group of friends making foody videos. A quiet leader with a knack for the arts, whether that be playing guitar or painting, she had great empathy for those around her. Whitelaw was stabbed to death while working at Walgreens.

Ronnie Padilla, 19

1800 block of Monterey Road

June 19, 2022

Padilla was "a young man with his own unique style," known for his Kappa hoodies and curls, according to his obituary. He loved spending time with his family, writing raps, his dogs Paco and Chaco and playing basketball with his brother. Padilla was shot and killed in southeastern Colorado Springs.

JULY

Santiago Calleros, 19

El Morro Mobile Home Park, 3655 El Morro Road

July 6, 2022

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Calleros was the best son his parents could have asked for, according to his obituary, and he cherished his baby girl, Araselli. He was a Steelers fan who enjoyed playing football himself. He spent the last couple years of his life making a name for himself in the music industry. Calleros was shot and killed in southeastern Colorado Springs.

Mack Lee, 27

4200 block of Sanders View

July 9, 2022

Lee grew up in Victoria, Virginia, before enlisting in the U.S. Army, where he served for four years. He was known to crack jokes and frequent the gym, according to his obituary. Lee was shot and killed in southeastern Colorado Springs.

Antonio Bonner, 46

Incline Apartments, 3125 Sinton Road

July 13, 2022

Bonner joined the U.S. Army after graduating from high school in Texas, according to his obituary. He deployed all across the world, including the Middle East and Africa, and served in Operation Desert Storm during the Gulf War before retiring as a Sergeant. Bonner was most passionate about being a father and cooking, for which he went to culinary school. He was looking to move forward in life with his fiancé, Maria. Bonner was shot and killed during a disagreement.

Russell Basham, 37

Incline Apartments, 3125 Sinton Road

July 13, 2022

Basham served in the U.S. Army for 13 years and worked in psychological operations, according to his obituary. Basham was shot and killed during a disagreement.

AUGUST

Glenn Furster, 37

2165 Academy Place

Aug. 19, 2022

Jeremy Diaz, 36

3025 Hancock Expressway

Aug. 19, 2022

Diaz positively impacted the lives of many children while working as a program manager for Juvenile Justice at Aspen Pointe, helping them cope with their personal challenges, according to his obituary. He was a passionate father of eight children, three of whom he adopted as his own after marrying his wife Melissa in 2021. Diaz was shot and killed in southeastern Colorado Springs.

SEPTEMBER

Gene Carnes, 22

Bijou Street bridge over Interstate 25

Sept. 16, 2022

Trevor Branson, 19

6000 block of Gunshot Pass Drive

Sept. 18, 2022

Branson was born and raised in Colorado Springs. His family nicknamed him "The Giant," according to his obituary, and he loved to play video games. Branson's family told KRDO he was a 6-foot-7-inch teddy bear. He was shot and killed at his grandmother's house while she was not home.

Deborah Parker-Lykins, 68

1200 block of Dancing Horse Drive

Sept. 22, 2022

Parker-Lykins died in the same incident as her husband, Duane Lykins. Her son, Cody Parker, is facing charges in her death. She is survived by another son. She was preceded in death by her stepson Clayton Lykins. She described herself as a "mom first" on her Facebook page.

Duane Lykins, 79

1200 block of Dancing Horse Drive

Sept. 22, 2022

Lykins died in the same incident as his wife, Deborah Parker-Lykins. His stepson, Cody Parker, is facing charges in his death. He is survived by a stepson and preceded in death by son Cayton Lykins. He retired from Kimberly Clark.

OCTOBER

Antonio Jimenez-Garibay, 45

Murray Hill Apartments, 4225 Galley Road

Oct. 3, 2022

Demitri Crockett, 19

Wind River Apartments, 919 North 19th St.

Oct. 10, 2022

Crockett, who displayed a prowess for lyricism and dance from a young age, had a "huge vision" of being a successful rap musician and "the talent to match," according to his sister. Crockett was shot and killed outside his apartment building.

Allison Scarfone, 27

500 block of Eerie Road

Oct. 10, 2022

Scarfone is survived by her mother, Rachael Scarfone, who resides in Florida. She was homeless at the time of her death.

Kelty Marron, 41

00 block of East Cimarron

Oct. 10, 2022

Marron was homeless at the time he was killed.

NOVEMBER

Bradly Miller, 35

Dorchester Park, 1130 South Nevada Ave.

Nov. 3, 2022

Miller was a resident of Paonia, Colorado, who had previously lived in Trinidad prior to moving in 2021. Miller had also spent time in Durango, Montana and North Dakota.

Ricky Keiser, 45

South Union Boulevard and the MLK Bypass

Nov. 7, 2022

Keiser was originally from Pueblo, and was homeless at the time of his death. He was a father to a 13-year-old boy and was described as "an amazing father" by the mother of his child. Keiser was killed in southeast Colorado Springs.

Derrick Rump, 38