Pueblo coroner identifies fatal carjacking victim, suspect still at large

Investigators in Pueblo are still searching for the person who stole a vehicle and subsequently killed the owner while driving off.

The Pueblo County Coroner confirms that 22-year-old Jesse Garcia was the victim.

Garcia was going to work when a man tried to steal his Jeep Cherokee while it was running in front of his home on the 900 block of E. 5th Street. The 22-year-old was dragged two blocks to the intersection of Joplin Ave. and E. 6th Street.

Security footage from a resident that lives on the corner of the intersection obtained by KRDO shows the Jeep Cherokee driving at a high rate of speed down Joplin Avenue while Garcia falls off.

Garcia, a father of two, was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.

Police later found the stolen vehicle at 1200 Socorro Place, but the carjacker was long gone. Information on the suspect is limited at this time.

“Our suspect is either light skinned or white male skinny wearing like a traffic control vest and a hat,” said Sgt. Frank Ortega with the Pueblo Police Department. “A utilities man, possibly, we don’t know.”

Sgt. Ortega says investigators followed leads all through the night into Tuesday morning. However, there is no person of interest at this time.

Monday night, family and friends held a vigil for Garcia at the intersection of Joplin and 6th.

“Jesse was a really nice person a loving father to his kids,” said Amado Vigal, a close friend to Garcia. “Always put a smile on his family’s faces. No matter what kind of mood anyone was in.”

Car thefts in Pueblo are not uncommon. A study done by Driving-Tests.org says the Steel City has the third most stolen vehicles per 100,000 residents among all American cities.

Sgt. Ortega tells KRDO in his 22-year career that he’s seen a number of carjackings result in injuries and personal property being damaged. However, he cannot recall a carjacking leading to a fatality.

If you are in a similar situation like Garcia was in yesterday where you see your vehicle or someone else’s being stolen, Pueblo police urge that you be the best witness you can be. Do not take action and put your vehicle or your own person in harm’s way.

“Your car is a material object. If someone is going to take it, let them take it. It isn’t worth your life,” said Vigal.