Death penalty considered for Colorado Springs men accused of killing teens

Prosecutors are considering pursuing the death penalty for two Colorado Springs men accused of pulling the trigger during the executions of a pair of high school students.

The Gazette reports Prosecutor Jim Bentley said Monday the District Attorney’s Office hasn’t ruled out death penalty bids against first-degree murder suspects Diego Chacon and Marco Garcia-Bravo.

The men’s arraignments are scheduled for May 7. If the men plead not guilty, prosecutors would have 63 days to file notice of a capital case under Colorado law.

Garcia-Bravo and Chacon are among 10 people charged in a conspiracy that culminated in the March 2017 abductions and shootings of Derek Greer and Natalie Cano-Partida, two Coronado High School students, at close range over a gang rivalry.

Five people were charged with first-degree murder in the teens’ slayings. Prosecutors cut plea deals for two of them.