Rocky Ford Police Officer will stand trial for murder in on-duty shooting death

A judge ruled Thursday (1/15/15) that there is probable cause for Officer James Ashby to stand trial for second-degree murder in the on-duty shooting death of a 27-year-old man in Rocky Ford.

Ashby will be arraigned on February 12 at 11:30 a.m. in La Junta. He is expected to enter a plea at that time.

Ashby is accused of killing Jack Jacquez, Jr. on October 12, 2014.

Before the ruling was handed down, Otero County Coroner Robert Fowler testified that the entrance wound was found on Jacquez’s back. He said the bullet went through three of the four chambers of Jacquez’s heart and stopped behind his left breast.

A man named Kyle Moore also testified Thursday morning.

Moore is the brother of a Rocky Ford Police Officer and was doing a ride along with Ashby the night the shooting happened.

Moore testified that Ashby tried to talk to a man who was riding a skateboard on highway 50. He said the man kept walking toward a house.

Moore testified that Ashby got out of the car and that he lost sight of Ashby because of the trees.

Moore further testified that after a few minutes he heard Ashby yell “Let me see your hands” twice and then heard him say “drop the bat” twice. Moore said he then heard two gun shots.

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A judge is set to consider the evidence against a police officer charged with second-degree murder in the on-duty shooting death of a 27-year-old man in Rocky Ford.

A preliminary hearing to determine if officer James Ashby will stand trial in the death of Jack Jacquez, Jr. is scheduled in La Junta Thursday.

Authorities haven’t released the circumstances surrounding the Oct. 12 shooting and court documents have been sealed.

Relatives say Ashby followed Jacquez to his home and shot him in the back after a struggle over a skateboard.

The shooting led to protest marches and a candlelight vigil in the small southeastern Colorado town.

A preliminary hearing scheduled last month was delayed after Asbhy’s lawyers asked for more time to review evidence.