On the evening of June 28, 2023, in Pueblo, Colorado, 25-year-old Marcos Antonio Colunga-Gaona was walking home after buying a soda from a nearby gas station. His life was cut short when he was confronted by a teenager and fatally shot on a street at the intersection of Lambert Avenue and West 17th Street. Neighbors reported hearing gunshots at approximately 8:19 p.m., and upon arrival, police officers found Colunga-Gaona in the street with a gunshot wound.
He was pronounced dead at the scene.
In the wake of his death, his family described him as a loving, compassionate, and funny man who could make anyone smile. His mother, Rosemarie Gaona, and sister, Samantha Gaona, spoke of their profound loss and the lingering pain. They shared that he had been grappling with personal struggles but had been clean for two weeks and was planning to move with his brother to start a new life. His sister recounted that he had expressed fear of an unknown individual who had accused him of stealing.
Four months after the shooting, a juvenile male was arrested and faced a charge of second-degree murder in connection with Marcos Antonio Colunga-Gaona's death. Due to the suspect's age, his name and specific age have not been publicly released by the Pueblo Police Department. While the arrest marked a step towards justice for the family, they expressed that nothing could bring their beloved Marcos back.
