Pueblo brothers arrested for kidnapping two teens and sexual assault after a SWAT standoff

PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) - Two Pueblo brothers face multiple charges after they kept multiple people, including teens, against their will. The suspects were arrested after a standoff with Pueblo Police.

On Friday, Sept. 22, 2023, the Pueblo Police Department (PPD) learned two teens had been held against their will inside the home of 20-year-old Elyjah Cancino and 31-year-old Ernest Cancinco-Vigil. According to court documents, investigators later learned three children and one adult were possibly kidnapped.

Court documents state Cancino began accusing people inside the home of stealing a firearm.

In the home, court documents say that Cancino pointed a gun and threatened the victims, telling one of them that he would beat them with a hammer and cut up their bodies in the basement.

Fearing for their life, and the credibility of the threat - that teen managed to escape to a nearby McDonald's restaurant on Northern Ave. and called the police.

Police learned that after the teen escaped, Cancino forced the other teen to accompany him to look for the escaped teen. During the search, the teen with Cancino was also able to get away after they crashed into a parked car at the McDonald's.

Police were told another person inside the house reported being sexually assaulted by Cancino-Vigil during this search. According to court records, Cancio-Vigil faces the charge of sexual assault of someone under 15.

When PPD responded to the home several people came out and officers arrested Cancino. Cancino-Vigil, however, and others refused to come out of the house.

PPD SWAT Team and Crisis Negotiation Teams responded and eventually, Cancino-Vigil exited the house and was taken into custody without incident.

Elyjah Cancino faces the following charges:

• 1st Degree Kidnapping (Felony)
• Child Abuse (Felony)
• Illegal Discharge of a Firearm (Felony)
• 3rd Degree Assault (Misdemeanor)
• False Imprisonment (Misdemeanor)
• Menacing (Misdemeanor)

His bond has been set at $35,000.

Ernest Cancino-Vigil faces the following charges:

• Sexual Assault (Felony)
• Child Abuse (Felony)
• Possession of Illegal Weapon (Misdemeanor)
• 3rd Degree Assault (Misdemeanor)
• Menacing (Misdemeanor)

His bond has been set at $50,000.

Both were booked into the Pueblo County Judicial Center and are both set to appear in court on Sept. 28.