Colorado Springs Police identify victims, suspect in mass shooting at birthday party

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) -- More than 48 hours after a gunman opened fire at a birthday party in Colorado Springs and then took his own life, police revealed more details about the shooting on Tuesday.

The shooting happened early Sunday morning at a mobile home park in the city's southeast side. Six people were slain before the gunman turned and pulled the trigger on himself. All six of the victims were members of the same extended family.

The Colorado Springs Police Department held a news conference at 3 p.m. and identified the victims and the suspect involved.

Chief Vince Niski addressed the delay in information being made available to the public, saying the department has a moral and legal obligation to get information to family members first. Niski identified the victims officially just before calling another investigator to the podium. Those victims were identified by family members on Monday.

The victims were identified as:
Melvin Perez, 30
Mayra Ibarra de Perez, 33
Joana Cruz, 52
Jose Gutierrez, 21
Sandra Ibarra-Perez, 28
Jose Ibarra, 26

Investigators say the party was at Joana Cruz's house. The suspect entered the residence alone and shot all six victims in quick succession. Evidence shows children were close to the incident and may have witnessed the event, according to CSPD.

They are now taking questions: I asked where the children were when the shooting started. Police say they were in the main room. They then ran to a back room for safety.

— Chase Golightly (@cgolightlyKRDO) May 11, 2021

CSPD received three 911 calls shortly after midnight. Gunshots could be heard in the background of one of the 911 calls. One adult was able to escape and called 911, telling police "someone shot my family." Police said the suspect used a semi-automatic 9mm handgun.

Officers said Jose Gutierrez was found with life-threatening wounds, and he died later at the hospital. Five victims were found deceased at the scene.

The suspect was identified as 28-year-old Teodoro Macias. We previously reported that Macias was identified as "Junior."

Police Lieutenant Joe Frabbiele described the suspect as jealous and controlling of his girlfriend, Sandra Ibarra. “The suspect had a history of controlling and jealous behavior towards the victim," Frabbiele says. "This behavior, in particular, was obvious when he tried to isolate her from her family making efforts to prevent her from attending family events.” However, investigators said they didn't have any reports of domestic violence between the couple, who had been together for a year.

Police told KRDO that a week before Sunday's shooting, there was another family gathering at a different residence. During that get-together, there was some sort of conflict between the family and Macias. Investigators added that Macias wasn't invited to Sunday's gathering, and Lt. Frabbiele speculated that the shooting was in response to not being invited.

Macias also doesn't have a criminal history, according to Colorado Court records. As for what's next in the investigation, detectives are working to learn how Macias obtained the firearm used in this shooting. They say it was purchased locally in Colorado Springs back in 2014 but not by Macias. They also say the gun was not reported stolen.

A fundraiser to help pay for funeral expenses for the victims has been set up on Facebook.