Man dies from shooting at homeless camp near downtown Colorado Springs
Update: The Colorado Springs Police Department has confirmed that a man has died at a homeless camp near downtown Colorado Springs.
Raymond Maez, 22, died on Dec. 10 due to a gunshot wound he sustained on Nov. 27, 2018, near Interstate 25 and the Martin Luther King Jr. Bypass.
Maez’s death is being investigated as the 35th homicide in 2018 in the City of Colorado Springs. Last year at this time 31 homicides were being investigated.
This continues to be an active investigation. All subjects have been identified.
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Police are investigating a shooting Tuesday at a homeless camp near downtown Colorado Springs that left the victim in critical condition.
Officers found the man just before 9:30 a.m. in a tent between northbound Interstate 25 and Fountain Creek, just north of the MLK Expressway.
Police detained a woman for questioning. As of Tuesday evening, there had been no arrests or charges, and the motive for the shooting was unclear.
Police said gun violence at homeless camps is rare.
“We’ve seen more stabbings than shootings,” Lt. Howard Black said. “But we’re aware that some homeless people have guns. We’re always alert for that.”
During a Monday tour of a homeless camp in Colorado Springs, a resident displayed what appeared to be an assault rifle.
Laura and Deric Van Fleet, a homeless couple, said they think they know the victim in Tuesday’s shooting.
“If it’s who we think it is, he tends to run his mouth a lot,” Laura Van Fleet said. “He may have angered someone. If this is a case of homeless-on-homeless violence, it’s disturbing.”
The Van Fleets shared their experiences of living on the streets.
“I’d say half of us have knives, machetes or dogs for protection,” Deric Van Fleet said. “There are people out here who will take your stuff, jump on you and hurt you if they think you have money or something they want.”
Laura Van Fleet said she recently found a job and the couple plans to leave the homeless life behind soon.
The crime scene affected traffic on a small section of I-25 and kept some bicyclists from pedaling through an adjacent concrete trail, along which homeless camps are common.
“There’s concern riding and seeing the homeless,” said Mary Corollo, who was riding with her husband, Bert. “They’ve never threatened us, but I will say I’m uncomfortable riding through them gathered around the trail.”
The police Major Crimes Unit is investigating Tuesday’s shooting and wants to hear from anyone who has information about it.
The number for Colorado Springs police is (719) 444-7000.
