In the quiet town of Canon City, Colorado, the life of Allen Coty Bass, a 33-year-old man, was brought to an abrupt and violent end on the evening of May 2, 2020. The events of that night stemmed from a domestic disturbance that escalated with tragic consequences. Deputies from the Fremont County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to a residence following reports of a shooting. Upon their arrival, they discovered Bass suffering from a life-threatening gunshot wound.
He was rushed to a local hospital, but his injuries proved to be fatal, and he was pronounced dead.
The investigation into the shooting quickly pointed to a suspect, Gavianna Pebenito, a 32-year-old woman who was present at the scene. Accounts from that night detail a heated argument between Pebenito and Bass. According to witnesses, the verbal altercation intensified, leading to a physical struggle over a handgun. During the chaotic encounter, the firearm discharged, striking Bass. Pebenito herself made the call to 911, reporting the shooting. When law enforcement arrived, they found her outside the residence, and she was taken into custody without incident. The investigation that followed suggested a tumultuous relationship between the two, marked by previous instances of conflict.
In the aftermath of the fatal shooting, Gavianna Pebenito was arrested and initially charged with first-degree murder. As the legal proceedings unfolded, the case moved toward a resolution in the courts. In a significant development, Pebenito ultimately pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of second-degree murder. This plea was part of an agreement that saw the initial, more severe charge of first-degree murder dismissed. In March 2021, a judge sentenced her for her role in the death of Allen Coty Bass, bringing a close to the legal chapter of a story that ended in heartbreak and loss.
