Update
On October 6, 2020, the El Paso County Coroner’s Office completed the autopsy of the deceased adult male. The male was identified as 42-year-old Richard Melgoza of Colorado Springs. While the Coroner’s Office will make the official cause and manner of death determination, this death is being investigated as a homicide and continues to be an active investigation. Further updates will be released as appropriate.
Mr. Melgoza’s death is the 30th homicide investigation in the City of Colorado Springs in 2020. The Colorado Springs Police Department investigated 17 homicides at this time last year.
Original Release
On October 5, 2020, at approximately 11:10 A.M., the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) received a call for service in the 4600 block of Rusina Road reference a shooting. When officers arrived on scene, they located a deceased adult male with a gunshot wound. Based on the preliminary information, detectives from the CSPD’s Violent Crimes Homicide/Assault Unit responded to assume responsibility of the investigation.
The CSPD Homicide/Assault Unit detectives obtained a warrant for the arrest of 28-year-old Steven Walters for the charge of Murder in the first degree. Walters was taken into custody and booked into the El Paso County Jail on October 6th where he remains in custody. The name of the deceased male will not be released at this time pending autopsy and notification of next of kin.
This continues to be an active investigation and further details will be released in the future as appropriate.
Anyone with information or who is a witness to this investigation is asked to call the Colorado Springs Police Department at (719) 444-7000; or if you wish to remain anonymous, you may call the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at (719) 634-STOP (7867) or 1-800-222-8477.