(Dec. 10, 2024) – Three suspects have been formally charged with multiple counts of attempted first-degree murder following a nonfatal shooting in July involving several victims, including an Aurora police officer.
About 11:45 p.m. July 28, Aurora patrol officers responded to a report of a shooting near the intersection of South Havana Street and East Idaho Place. The victim, an on-duty Aurora police officer in a marked unit, reported over the radio he was driving south on Havana Street when he heard gunfire and believed his vehicle had been struck by a bullet.
About 10 minutes later, officers were informed about a man who self-transported to a local hospital with a gunshot wound. The man later told officers he was on the sidewalk near the 1500 block of South Havana Street when he heard several shots and realized he had been struck.
There was no suspect information at the time of the shootings, but several shell casings were recovered at the scene.
The Aurora Police Department Crime Gun Intelligence Unit led the investigation and discovered, through a canvass for security video near the scene, that a rolling gunfight had taken place on South Havana Street between a black Land Rover SUV and a white Ford F150 pickup. Investigators developed information the shootout was connected to the incident involving the Aurora officer and the pedestrian. Investigators also identified four additional victims who were in the crossfire.
Forensic analysis of the shell casings linked one of the suspected firearms to another shooting earlier in the day in Aurora and a third shooting several hours later in Denver. Ultimately, investigators were able to identify three suspects, including the suspected driver of the Land Rover and two passengers, who are the suspected shooters.
In October, investigators arrested Jose Daniel Gimenez-Chacin, 23, and Alonzo Lara, 29. Investigators learned in November the third suspect, Yilbert Fransua Maldonado-Moncada, 29, was in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody. Last Thursday, Maldonado-Moncada made his first appearance in Arapahoe District Court where he was formally advised of the charges against him for the July 28 shooting on South Havana Street.
All three suspects are charged in Arapahoe District Court with six counts of attempted first-degree murder, five counts of attempted first-degree assault and one count of first-degree assault, all felonies. Gimenez-Chacin remains in custody on $750,000 bond. Lara remains in custody on $500,000 bond. Maldonado-Moncada remains in custody on $250,000 bond.
The investigation is active and ongoing. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720.913.STOP (7867). Tipsters can remain anonymous and could be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000.
Joe Moylan
Public Information Officer
720.432.5095
AP24-145382