Dacien Salazar, a 19-year-old male, was fatally shot on Valentine's Day, February 14, 2024, in a drive-by shooting outside the Downtown Aquarium in Denver. The incident occurred around 3 p.m. at 700 Water Street. Salazar was transported to a local hospital in critical condition and later died from his injuries. He had traveled from Pueblo with friends to visit the aquarium.
Witnesses reported that after spending about an hour inside, a four-door black sedan, later identified as a Chevy Malibu with temporary tags, pulled up as they were leaving. A masked individual in the back seat opened fire on the group, striking Salazar.
The investigation into the shooting led detectives to identify two suspects, 19-year-old Antonio Vasquez and 17-year-old Jason Trujillo Jr. According to arrest records, a friend of Salazar's informed investigators that Salazar had received threats on Facebook. This information, combined with surveillance footage and an anonymous tip, helped law enforcement identify the suspects. Investigators discovered that the same type of bullet cartridges found at the aquarium shooting scene were also found at the scene of another shooting in Pueblo, allegedly involving a gang with which the suspects were associated. Phone records and security footage from a hotel and an REI store near the aquarium further linked Vasquez and Trujillo to the crime. The footage showed the suspects, with one carrying a black mask, and also captured them removing a temporary tag from their vehicle before the shooting.
In May 2024, the Denver District Attorney's Office announced that both Antonio Vasquez and Jason Trujillo Jr. were charged with first-degree murder in connection with Dacien Salazar's death. Trujillo will be tried as an adult. A $1 million cash-only bond was set for each of the suspects. The case against them is proceeding through the court system.
