State rules deputy-involved shooting from July was justified

Update: The 4th Judicial District Attorney’s Office ruled the deputy involved in the officer-involved shooting committed on July 22nd in El Paso County was justified in his actions.

According to state law, it is the protocol for these cases to be further investigated by a multi-agency team or a Deadly Force Investigation Team.

El Paso County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a report of a shooting victim, 50-year-old Alberto Bello, being transported to the St. Francis Medical Center around 6:51 a.m. on July 22nd.

Bello said the shooting happened at 12345 State Highway 94 and that his friend was also shot in the head. When deputies arrived at the location, they found 46-year-old Gustavo Del Sol Sanchez deceased.

During a search of the area, deputies found more than 70 suspected marijuana plants in an outbuilding located on the property. They also found Del Sol Sanchez’s vehicle. The vehicles VIN number matched an address previously reported to police for being suspected illegal marijuana grow.

Not long after, deputies received a call of several armed men removing items from the address connected to Del Sol Sanchez’s vehicle.

Additional deputies, including Deputy C. Wheat, responded to the area. While outside of the residence, deputies found a box trailer full of what appeared to be marijuana product and blood on the floor. They also saw a window was broken out of the house and several shotgun casings.

Deputy Wheat proceeded to enter the home and proceeded to search it. During that time, a tip told deputies the black SUV took off from the area and headed towards 19230 Loop Road, another residence.

Deputies then entered that home to find three adults, including the property owner, and several small children, all of whom gave permission to search the home.

At this point, deputies asked if anyone else was inside the home in which the property owner responded no. Deputy Wheat continued searching, approaching a barn on the property.

When Wheat entered, the barn was completely dark. Shortly after opening the barn’s door, Wheat says he was face to face with barrel of a shotgun pointed directly at him.

Wheat then fired four times towards the person behind the gun, William Bacorn. Bacorn was pronounced dead at the scene.

During the incident, Deputy J. Juhl was struck by shrapnel. He was treated at a nearby hospital and released.

According to Colorado law, Deputy Wheat was justified in his actions in the killing of Bacorn. The law states a peace officer can fire a weapon if he feels it is absolutely and reasonably necessary to defend himself or a third person.

Because of this, no criminal charges will be placed against Deputy C. Wheat.

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Police have made an arrest in the homicide committed around July 22nd on Highway 94.

Authorities were called to the scene around 6:45 a.m. for reports of a possible shooting. That’s where they found one victim shot and found 47-year-old Gustavo Del Sol Sanchez dead.

Several months later, they were able to arrest Terrell Hall, 20, and Colin Matthew Kellet, 26, in connection to the incident.

Hall is facing both First Degree Murder and Third-Degree Burglary/Assault/Menace charges and has been booked into the Criminal Justice Center. Kellet is in the process of being booked into the Center and is facing First Degree Murder and Third-Degree Burglary charges.

Mugshots of the suspects are expected to be released later.

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The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office identified the man who was killed by a suspect east of Colorado Springs before another shootout this weekend.

The sheriff’s office said it was 47-year-old Gustavo Del Sol Sanchez who was found dead Sunday morning in the 12,000 block of Highway 94.

According to the sheriff’s office, it may have started with a shootout between Sanchez and another man over a suspected marijuana robbery. The other suspect hasn’t been identified.

Deputies went to another home in the 19000 block of Loop Road they believe was connected to the shooting, another shootout ensued and a deputy was injured. Deputies walked in and found 18-year-old William Bacorn armed, and shots were fired. Bacorn was killed in the exchange.

No other details have been released, including the identities of the other suspects involved.

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A series of events lead to two people dead, one critically injured and a deputy shot in El Paso County Sunday.

According to the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office, it started with a shootout between two people on Highway 94. One of them died and the other drove himself to the hospital.

Deputies responded to the scene and discovered the shooting may have been related to a suspected marijuana robbery.

Deputies then went to a home on Loop Road, which they believed was connected to the people involved. Shots were fired at deputies. Deputy Jeremy Juhl was injured, the sheriff’s office said. It’s believed he was hit with shrapnel, but he could have been hit by a bullet.

One suspect was shot and killed during the shootout and Loop Road.

Stick with KRDO.com for updates on this developing story.