In the early morning hours of February 26, 2026, the life of 20-year-old Evie Jesica Gallegos was tragically cut short in a shooting in Pueblo, Colorado. A Hispanic mother, Gallegos was known for her bubbly personality and infectious laugh, and was considered the life of every room she entered. Her world revolved around her two young daughters, for whom she was a devoted and loving mother.
The incident that claimed her life unfolded at a residence on East 14th Street.
At approximately 3:30 a.m., Pueblo police responded to a call of shots fired in the area. Upon their arrival, they discovered Gallegos inside the home, where she had already succumbed to her injuries. Another individual at the scene had also sustained at least one gunshot wound and was transported to a local hospital with injuries that were not expected to be life-threatening.
In the days following the shooting, the community mourned the loss of the young mother. A candlelight vigil was organized to honor her memory and show support for her grieving family. Family and friends remembered her as fiercely loyal and always ready to be there for those she cared about. Her passing left a void in the lives of her two daughters, parents, siblings, and a wide circle of extended family and friends.
The investigation into the homicide led police to identify 20-year-old Leandro Medina as the suspect. An arrest warrant was issued for Medina on charges of first-degree murder and first-degree assault. On March 1, without incident, Medina voluntarily surrendered to the Pueblo County Sheriff's Office. He was subsequently booked into the Pueblo County Jail on a first-degree murder charge. The death of Evie Jesica Gallegos marked the second homicide in the city of Pueblo for the year.
