In the Villa Park neighborhood of Denver, a tragic event unfolded on May 30, 2018, forever altering the lives of two families. On that day, 25-year-old Raymond Flores Jr. was fatally shot in the 600 block of Perry Street. Born on Christmas Day in 1992, Raymond was known for his big heart and the constant smile that he shared with his family and friends.
His death, ruled a homicide by the Denver Office of the Medical Examiner, left a void in the lives of his mother, Desiree Flores, his fiancée, Shay Montoya, and his two children, Rayal and Annalaya Flores.
The violence of that day also claimed the life of 16-year-old Anthony Martinez, who was with Raymond. Both victims were rushed to a hospital but succumbed to their injuries. A third male victim was also seriously wounded in the attack, left in critical condition. The incident drew a significant response from the Denver Police Department as they began the search for the person responsible for the deadly shooting.
The investigation led authorities to 18-year-old Angel Matthew Gallegos. He was taken into custody and held on suspicion of two counts of first-degree murder and one count of first-degree assault. The Denver District Attorney's office later formally charged Gallegos with two counts of murder in the second degree, one count of criminal attempt to commit murder in the second degree, one count of assault in the first degree, and a sentence enhancer for a crime of violence. The motive for the shooting was not immediately made public by officials. Gallegos was scheduled for a court appearance in early June 2018 as the legal process began.
