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Two face charges in Rifleafter shots fired from home

Staff Report

RIFLE – Two men face charges after shots were fired Friday night in Rifle, police say.

No injuries were reported, but one family was evacuated from their home until the suspects were arrested.

Nearly two hours passed between the first reports of gunshots and the final arrest.



At about 9:10 p.m. police were dispatched to a call of shots fired in the 400 block of West 4th Street.

One witness reportedly saw a man shooting a firearm from atop a trailer. Another described a vehicle with two occupants leaving the area.



A short time later, the vehicle and its occupants were contacted by police where the vehicle was parked in a nearby lot. Police say the driver resisted arrest while the passenger was compliant.

Meanwhile, police surrounded the residence where the shots reportedly were fired. A man left the house with an adult female and young child. However, the man would not comply with officers’ commands, and the three re-entered the residence and all of its lights were turned off, police said.

Police reportedly later saw the man leave through a back window of the residence and flee on foot a short distance down an alley. He was arrested there at about 11 p.m.

Javier Salaz deAngel, 42, of Rifle, was arrested on suspicion of prohibited use of a firearm, resisting arrest, second-degree assault on a police officer and reckless endangerment.

Omar DeLaCruz, 29, of Rifle was arrested on suspicion of DUI and compulsory insurance violations.

Roberto Velazquez Martinez, 29, of Rifle was arrested and questioned, but later released without facing charges.


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