In the early morning hours of January 26, 2021, the life of 29-year-old Geronimo Alvarado was tragically cut short. A Hispanic male, Alvarado was at the Blue Sky Motel on West Colfax Avenue in Lakewood, Colorado, when a violent encounter unfolded. At approximately 2:45 a.m., law enforcement received a report of a shooting at the motel. Upon their arrival, they discovered Alvarado suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Despite the immediate response, his injuries proved fatal, and he was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The investigation into the shooting quickly gained momentum as Lakewood Police detectives began to piece together the events of that morning. Surveillance footage from the motel became a critical piece of evidence. The video captured a male suspect exiting a white GMC SUV, approaching Alvarado's motel room, and knocking on the door. Within a matter of seconds of entering the room, the suspect fired the fatal shots and fled the scene. This brazen act of violence left a community in shock and a family grappling with a sudden and senseless loss.
Later that same day, authorities identified Julian Joel Rivera, 34, as the primary suspect in Alvarado's murder. A search for Rivera ensued, culminating in his location and arrest in Castle Rock that evening following a brief pursuit. Rivera was taken into custody and subsequently charged with first-degree murder. His violent spree, however, was not limited to the tragic events at the Blue Sky Motel. It was later revealed that Rivera was also a suspect in two other shootings that occurred on the very same day.
In March 2023, following a five-day jury trial, Julian Joel Rivera was convicted of the first-degree murder of Geronimo Alvarado. The evidence presented, including the damning surveillance footage, left no doubt as to his guilt. The court sentenced Rivera to life in prison, ensuring that he would be held accountable for his actions. The sentencing brought a measure of closure to the family of Geronimo Alvarado, though the pain of his loss remains.
