In the late morning of Friday, September 16, 2022, the city of Colorado Springs was shaken by an act of violence that left a young man dead. Gene Carnes, a 22-year-old Caucasian male, was fatally shot on the Bijou Street bridge, a busy overpass crossing Interstate 25. The incident, which occurred at approximately 11:59 a.m., prompted numerous calls to the Colorado Springs Police Department's Communication Center.
Callers reported the shooting, sending officers rushing to the scene where they discovered Carnes's body.
The initial moments of the investigation were challenging for law enforcement. Multiple witnesses were contacted, but they provided varying descriptions of the person responsible for the shooting. This lack of a clear suspect description hampered the immediate search efforts. The suspect was last seen heading north along the west side of the sound barrier that runs adjacent to the bustling interstate. The Colorado Springs Police Department's Homicide/Assault Unit quickly took charge of the investigation, beginning the arduous task of piecing together the events that led to Gene Carnes's untimely death.
The following day, a significant breakthrough occurred in the case. Detectives were able to identify an adult male as a suspect in the shooting. This individual was located and brought in for questioning by investigators. After the interview, the suspect was released from custody, with the investigation still very much active and ongoing. Authorities have not publicly disclosed the name of this individual. Police have stated that charges are pending a review of the case by the District Attorney's office. While an arrest has not been made, law enforcement officials have assured the public that all parties involved have been accounted for and that there is no known danger to the community stemming from this incident.
The El Paso County Coroner's Office conducted an autopsy and officially identified Gene Carnes as the victim on Monday, September 19, 2022. His death was ruled a homicide and marked the 33rd such investigation in the city of Colorado Springs for that year. The investigation into the death of Gene Carnes remains active, with authorities encouraging anyone with information to come forward and contact the Colorado Springs Police Department or the Crime Stoppers Tip Line.
