On a summer evening in Pueblo, Colorado, the life of Roque Marquez Jr., a 47-year-old Hispanic male, was tragically cut short. On July 17, 2021, as Marquez was walking near 29th Street and Interstate 25, he was struck by gunfire. The shots reportedly came from an older model, gold or beige sedan that was passing by. Emergency services responded to the scene, and Marquez was rushed to a local hospital, but he ultimately succumbed to his injuries.
The sudden and violent nature of his death
left his family and community in shock. Known as a man who was talented with his hands, with skills ranging from construction to drawing, Marquez was also described as someone who loved to work and help others. In the later years of his life, he had developed a deep passion for his faith and was involved with a group called Soldiers of Hope, which focused on helping people with addictions. His death was a significant loss to those who knew him and the many lives he had touched through his work and personal commitments.
In the weeks that followed the shooting, the Pueblo Police Department's Crimes Against Persons unit conducted an investigation into the homicide. Their efforts led them to identify a suspect in the case. On August 13, 2021, detectives located and arrested 20-year-old Jesus Arturo Benavidez at a swim beach at the Pueblo Reservoir. Benavidez was taken into custody on a warrant for second-degree murder and booked into the Pueblo County Jail. At the time of his arrest, law enforcement officials indicated that the investigation was ongoing and that further arrests in the case were possible.
