Mayor of Pueblo, Police Chief address shooting that left one dead

PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) - The Mayor of Pueblo, Heather Graham, and the Chief of the Pueblo Police Department (PPD), Chris Noeller, held a press conference on Monday to address a fatal shooting that took place in a Popeyes parking lot near Highway 50.

PPD said when the shooting happened on June 19, they ordered the suspect, 34-year-old Ronald Ray Valdez, to show his hands over 10 times. Instead, Valdez shot at officers 6 times through his car windshield and narrowly missed hitting one of the officers, according to Chief Chris Noeller.

That prompted the officers to fire back and Valdez was pronounced dead at the scene.

Since the incident, at least six officers and one dispatcher have been placed on administrative leave. Chief Noeller explained that this is standard policy and that one of the officers has since returned to duty.

The Pueblo County Sheriff's Office is leading the investigation which is now being reviewed by the 10th Judicial Critical Incident Response Team.

The chief says it will take anywhere from 9 to 10 months.

The press conference can be watched above.