Shooting Death Ruled Homicide

COLORADO SPRINGS – The El Paso County Coroners Office has ruled the shooting death of 30-year-old Christopher Obertino a homicide.

Reports say Obertino died of a gunshot wound December 5th at Constitution Avenue and Meade Avenue.

This is the 23rd homicide in the City of Colorado Springs, which brings the total for 2008 up to 25.

The December 25th fatal shooting of Margaret Sweet, Age 38, of Fountain was ruled as a homicide and announced in a previous release. No further information about this case is available at this time. This is the 24th homicide in the City of Colorado Springs during 2008.

The El Paso County Coroners Office has completed the autopsy related to the December 28th fatal shooting at 3212 Virginia Avenue. Sean Kennedy, Age 22, of Colorado Springs, died of a gunshot wound, and the death has been ruled a homicide. No charges have been filed in this case, and it is anticipated that the investigative findings will be presented to the Fourth Judicial District Attorneys Office no later than the week of January 5, 2009. No further information will be released about this investigation until the District Attorneys Office makes a determination related to criminal charges.

This is the 25th homicide in the City of Colorado Springs during 2008. There were 28 homicides as of today’s date in 2007.

For purposes of clarification, the El Paso County Coroners Office will rule a death a homicide anytime a person dies as the result of the actions of another person, i.e. “the killing of a human being by another human being.” As such, no inference about criminal culpability should be made based on those rulings alone. Any criminal determinations are made by the Fourth Judicial District Attorneys Office related to the filing of criminal charges, based on investigative findings.

Note to Media: Please do not call Detectives or Supervisors from the Violent Crimes/Homicide Unit or Investigators/members of the Fourth Judicial District Attorneys Office for further information concerning these investigations. Updates will come from the CSPD Public Affairs Section when available.