Pueblo Police: uptick in drive-by shootings, most caused by gangs

PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) -- It's a crime no one sees coming until it's too late and it's happening more in Pueblo so far this year.

The Pueblo Police Department reports it's received 68 calls for drive-by shootings so far in 2021. That's roughly one every other day.

“We realize it’s an issue, it’s a problem and we are addressing the issue and we are addressing the problem,” says Sergeant Frank Ortega with the Pueblo Police Department.

The latest shooting happened Tuesday near a Val U Stay Inn and Suites near the Belmont area. Police arrested the suspect, later identified as34-year-old, Johnny Delgado shortly after the first shots rang out.

Delgado has an extensive criminal history dating back to 2005. He has been arrested for 3rd Degree Assault, menacing with a deadly weapon, and attempted homicide.

Looking into who is behind these shootings, Ortega says it's a small group of people.

“A lot of it is gang-related that is the root cause of this,” Ortega says, adding while these shootings are happening all over the city, they have found a correlation between the groups responsible.

“A drive-by happens at one group's place where they hang out and they go and shoot at the other group.”

Just last week, three men were arrested in gang-related incidents, including drive-by shootings.

Ortega says more of these types of arrests will be made as the department dedicates more resources and conducting operations to combat this issue.