Trial ordered for 2 in deaths of pair from Colorado, Kansas

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) – A judge has ordered two men to stand trial in the shooting deaths of a man and woman in Colorado Springs.

The Gazette reported Saturday that 20-year-old Nashid Rayon Rivers and 19-year-old Marquis Dantre Hazard are charged with murder in the deaths of Serena Lee Garcia and Marcus Howard Denton.

Garcia was 21 and lived in Parker. Denton was 20 and was a native of Atchison, Kansas. Their bodies were found in a car on April 21.

Investigators testified that Rivers’ brother told police the defendants planned to steal marijuana from the victims.

In a hearing Friday, District Judge Larry Edward Schwartz noted Rivers and Hazard each blamed the other for the shootings. Schwartz said the evidence was sufficient for both to be tried.

Another hearing is scheduled for Nov. 13.