On a Saturday evening in Colorado Springs, the life of 32-year-old Jessica Maez was tragically cut short in a senseless act of violence. She and her husband, Matthew, were driving home from a family barbecue on November 6, 2021, when they encountered a motorcyclist who began driving erratically and repeatedly cutting them off. The situation escalated when Matthew made a hand gesture towards the rider.
In response, the motorcyclist pulled out a gun and fired multiple shots into their vehicle.
The gunfire struck both Jessica and her husband. Despite her injuries, Jessica attempted to drive away to safety but crashed their vehicle into a utility pole at the intersection of East Galley Road and Auburn Drive. Both she and Matthew were rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment. While Matthew survived his injuries, Jessica succumbed to the gunshot wounds she sustained. Her death was ruled the 35th homicide in Colorado Springs that year.
In the wake of the shooting, the Colorado Springs Police Department's Violent Crimes Homicide/Assault Unit took over the investigation. Detectives were able to obtain surveillance footage that captured an image of the suspect on a distinctive yellow, white, and black dirt bike-style motorcycle moments before the fatal encounter. The rider was clad entirely in black clothing and was wearing a black helmet, obscuring their identity.
Despite having this footage, authorities have been unable to identify the suspect, and no arrests have been made in the case. The investigation remains ongoing, with law enforcement and Jessica's grieving family appealing to the public for any information that could lead to the killer. A significant reward has been offered for information that results in an arrest, as a family and a community continue to seek justice for a life taken too soon.
