On the evening of July 31, 2019, Zachary Steven Pace, a 22-year-old Caucasian male, was at a gathering with several other people in a converted garage in Montrose, Colorado. Moments after ordering pizza for the group and speaking with his father who was on his way to pick him up, Zachary was fatally shot. The initial 911 call reported that a gunshot was heard and Zachary was found alone, but it was later admitted that eight other individuals were present at the time of the shooting.
The
investigation into Zachary's death was met with criticism from his family, who believe the scene was mishandled by law enforcement. They contend that the scene was initially treated as a suicide, which allowed for potential contamination of evidence as those present were permitted to leave. According to the family, crucial forensic testing, such as gunpowder residue analysis on Zachary and the others in the room, was not conducted. The gun recovered at the scene reportedly had no fingerprints, a detail the family found suspicious.
In the aftermath of the shooting, Zachary's family has been adamant that he was murdered and have identified a specific individual they believe is responsible. Their suspicion is based on witness accounts, including one who reported seeing a male, who was at the party, running from the scene with what appeared to be blood on his clothing. The family also claims to have a recording that corroborates this witness's account. They stated that this individual was not questioned by police until he was arrested for an unrelated matter weeks later, at which point he denied any involvement and was released on bond for the separate charge.
The family's pursuit of what they believe to be justice for Zachary has been ongoing. They have voiced their concerns about the thoroughness of the police investigation and have sought to have the case re-examined. Their account suggests a planned event, citing a witness who described the suspected shooter acting nervously and being quickly picked up by an SUV after the incident. Despite their efforts and the evidence they have presented, the family feels their pleas for a more in-depth investigation have been largely dismissed. As a result, the circumstances surrounding Zachary Pace's death remain unresolved, with no official arrests made in connection with the case.
