Man suspected of shooting, injuring person in vehicle in east Fort Collins arrested
The Larimer County Sheriff's Office arrested a person they say shot and injured a man in his vehicle in east Fort Collins earlier this week.
The adult male victim told the sheriff's office he was driving in the area of east Mulberry Street and Airpark Drive shortly before 5:15 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 21, when the driver of a white pickup truck pulled up next to him and shot him in his vehicle, the sheriff's office said in a news release.
The man drove to a nearby store and the store's staff called police. The man was taken to the hospital with serious injuries but is recovering, according to the sheriff's office.
Deputies searched the area and followed up on leads, and the agency sent a BOLO, or "be on the lookout," notification to area law enforcement agencies. Through that investigation, they identified 33-year-old Jorge Arreola as a suspect. He was arrested Thursday. Formal charges had not been filed by the district attorney's office as of Friday afternoon.
Investigators do not believe Arreola and the victim knew each other, and the sheriff's office says they are still working to determine what circumstances led to the shooting.
During Arreola's first court appearance Friday afternoon, 8th Judicial District Magistrate Jeffrey Schwartz set bond at $350,000. Deputy Public Defender Kathryn Hay said it appeared little evidence — cellphone records and a vehicle — connected her client to this incident. But Schwartz disagreed and said investigators believe Arreola had access to the same type of firearm used to shoot the victim in this case.
Anyone with information about this incident can contact Investigator Jesse Ihnen at 970-498-5165 or share information anonymously through Crime Stoppers of Larimer County at 970-221-6868 or www.stopcriminals.org.
Arreola is next scheduled to appear in court March 7.
All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in court. Arrests and charges are merely accusations by law enforcement until, and unless, a suspect is convicted of a crime.
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Man suspected of shooting person in vehicle in Fort Collins arrested
