In a tragic event that unfolded in a Colorado Springs apartment, 20-year-old Payshas Whatley lost her life in what authorities have described as a murder-suicide. On the afternoon of March 4, 2023, police responded to calls of a shooting at an apartment complex on Gatehouse Circle. Upon their arrival, they discovered the bodies of Whatley and 22-year-old Enrique Palomera inside the residence; both were pronounced dead at the scene.
The Colorado Springs Police Department is investigating
Whatley's death as a homicide, while Palomera's death is being investigated as a suicide. The El Paso County Coroner's Office conducted autopsies on both individuals. Investigators believe that Palomera shot and killed Whatley before taking his own life. Law enforcement has stated that they are not searching for any other suspects and that there is no ongoing threat to the public.
While police have indicated that Whatley and Palomera were in a dating relationship at the time of the incident, some of Whatley's family members have disputed this, stating that she had only known him for a few months and was temporarily living with him to have a safe place to stay. The specifics of the altercation that led to the fatal shooting have not been released by investigators.
Payshas Whatley was a mother to two young daughters, who were three years old and six months old at the time of her death. Her family described her as a joyful and loving person who had aspirations of becoming a nurse to deliver babies. In the wake of her death, a GoFundMe campaign was established to assist with funeral expenses and to provide financial support for her two children.
