Gang members discuss history of violence in Pueblo

A string of gang-related shootings has rocked neighborhoods in Pueblo, leaving many on edge.

There have been 13 shootings involving gang members since May, according to police. Most of those shootings happened on Pueblo’s east side.

Detective Chad Jeffries oversees the department’s gang unit. He says there are eight to 10 active gangs in Pueblo, but two rival gangs are responsible for most of the recent shootings.

“Over the last couple of years we’ve had a few gang members that have been shot and killed so what you see here is the consequence of that — is the backlash from that,” Jeffries said.

Some of that backlash, Jeffries said, stems from the death of 15-year-old Isaac Lucero last November. Police said Lucero was killed by a gang member on the city’s east side in broad daylight. His killer still hasn’t been found.

KRDO NewsChannel 13 spoke with a ranking member of a local street gang to find out what leads young people to join a gang. He agreed to speak on the condition that his identity be disguised. He fears retaliation. He’ll be identified as “Ricky.”

“There’s killers out there,” said Ricky of the gangs. “There’s some that play for keeps.”

Ricky told KRDO NewsChannel 13 he joined a gang when he was just 13, and dropped out of middle school.

“I came from a family that I really didn’t have no structure. My mom was in and out of prison. My dad wasn’t around. Just seeking some kind of love,” Ricky said. “Mostly all my family members are in the gang. Friends. Everybody.”

It’s a similar story for former gang member Mark Salazar.

“I originally joined a gang just because they, at the time, they were family,” Salazar said.

That lifestyle landed Salazar in prison for eight years after a shootout with Pueblo police.

“I knew eventually at a very young age I was going to end up in prison,” Salazar said. “I just didn’t know for what and for how long.”

It’s been more than 10 years since Salazar roamed the east side as a gangster, but he said the reasons kids are joining gangs now haven’t changed.

“There’s a lack of supervision at home,” Salazar said. “And with the lack of supervision, it’s kind of like when the mouse is away, the cat will play.”

There are now three generations of gangs in Pueblo. Jeffries said it’s a cycle of poverty that’s nearly impossible to break.

Jeffries said, “These folks have no chance. They have no exit strategy for them to get out of the gang.”

Pueblo police recently teamed up with the FBI to identify the gang members in the city. Jeffries said the city is working on an ordinance that would make it illegal for gang members to visit public venues, like city parks and libraries.

“It’ll be a similar type ordinance where they’ll be trespassing,” Jeffries said. “They’re not allowed to wear gang paraphernalia, gang clothing, hanging out in groups, showing their gang affiliation. That will be against the law in the city of Pueblo hopefully in the near future.”

As for Ricky, he said he’s trying to change his life and get out of a gang.

“There’s only two places you can go if you join a gang. It’s either prison for the rest of your life or in a grave,” Ricky said. “I would just say think about your education. That’s something nobody could ever take away from you.”

Police add that gang-related shootings are difficult to investigate because gang members don’t cooperate. Those who have information on the shootings are asked to call Pueblo Crime Stoppers at 719-542-STOP. Callers can remain anonymous.