Pueblo police arrest suspect in hotel shooting

Pueblo police arrested a man following a shooting Thursday night at Baymont Inn & Suites on Freeway Rd.

When police arrived at the hotel, they found a 38-year-old man with a gunshot wound to his arm. The victim told officers that he was shot by 34-year-old Mitchell Watkins, who was not present on the scene.

The victim stated that he knew Watkins was an active fugitive and had traveled to the hotel to confront him about a personal matter.

According to the victim, he was going to contact the police once he located Watkins. The victim said a disturbance ensued when he confronted Watkins. The victim told police that Watkins pointed a handgun at his face, and as the victim was attempting to move the gun away he was shot in the arm and Watkins ran away.

Upon arrival to the scene, officers saw Watkins go into the Pueblo Mall. Officers tracked down Watkins and were able to take him into custody.

Officers found a discarded backpack near a restaurant between the hotel and mall. The backpack contained a handgun that had been reported stolen out of Colorado Springs.

The victim was taken to the hospital and treated for his non-life threatening injury.

Watkins was booked into the Pueblo County Detention Center on the charge of first-degree assault.