By Shannon Lukens. (Courtesy photos to Steamboat Radio News.)
(This story was updated on Tuesday, Jan.21, to add mug shots.)
An incident at the Dream Island Mobile Home Park ended Sunday morning with two men in custody. Part of Hwy 40 was closed while it was happening.
It started around midnight, Jan. 18, when gunshots were heard in Dream Island. Steamboat Springs Police officers were called to the neighborhood after a neighbor said multiple rounds were fired from a handgun. Police officers found multiple handgun casings when the arrived.
Sergeant Evan Noble said surveillance footage showed the man appeared to have fired the rounds into the air and not at a specific target. They were able to determine the residence that the suspect entered after the shooting. They surrounded the residence. At about 6:30 a.m. Saturday, the Routt County SWAT team entered the residence with a search warrant and took two men into custody for questioning. They determined that neither of those men were the men who fired the gun.
However, one man, 25-year-old Jose Lara Figueroa, was charged with multiple charges including reckless endangerment, possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, destruction of evidence, and more, according to Sgt. Noble.
The Routt County SWAT team completed a second search warrant on a neighboring unit today, Jan. 19. Sg.t Noble says the man who was identified as allegedly firing the handgun is Darwin Mejia Cruz. He was located and taken into custody on charges of reckless endangerment and prohibited use of a weapon.
Here’s Sgt. Noble.
“No one was injured in this incident. We believe to have all of the people involved in custody and it was not a targeted incident.”
The search warrant is still being executed this morning. When the residence is cleared, a press release, with booking photos, will be sent from the City of Steamboat Springs and this story will be updated.
All persons accused of crimes are presumed innocent until and unless their guilt is established beyond a reasonable doubt in court.
Press Release issued from the City of Steamboat Springs at 11:21 a.m.
Weapon Discharged In Dream Island Neighborhood
Weekend Incident Results In The Arrest Of Two Men
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, COLORADO-January 19, 2025-Shortly after midnight on January 18, 2025, Steamboat Springs Police Officers were called to the Dream Island neighborhood when a neighbor reported that someone fired several rounds from a firearm. Officers located multiple handgun casings and were able to determine through surveillance footage that a man appeared to have fired the rounds into the air and not at a specific target.
Officers were able to determine the residence the suspect entered after the shooting and surrounded that residence. Around 6:30 a.m., the Routt County SWAT Team entered the residence with a search warrant and took two men into custody for questioning. Neither man was determined to be the one who fired the gun. One of the men, Jose M. Lara Figueroa, was charged with the following: Unlawful Possession Of A Controlled Substance; Unlawful Use Of A Controlled Substance; Tampering With Physical Evidence; and, Unlawful Distribution, Manufacturing, Dispensing, Or Sale Of A Controlled Substance.
On the morning of January 19, 2025, The Routt County SWAT Team completed a second search warrant on a neighboring unit. The man identified to have fired the handgun, Darwin J. Mejia Cruz, was located and taken into custody on charges of Reckless Endangerment and Prohibited Use of a Weapon.
SSPD encourages witnesses of this incident to contact Detective Alt (970-879-4344) concerning the case.
All persons accused of crimes are presumed innocent until and unless their guilt is established beyond a reasonable doubt in court.