Update January 15, 2022
On Thursday, January 13, 2022, CSPD Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for two counts of murder in the second degree for 19-year-old Kadin Blaschke of Reno, Nevada. Detectives with the CSPD Violent Offender Fugitive Task Force (VOFTF) coordinated with the United States Marshal’s Service in Reno, Nevada and Mr. Blaschke was taken into custody in Reno, Nevada on January 13, 2022.
A photo of Kadin Blaschke will be released on Twitter when available.
On Saturday, January 15, 2022, CSPD Detectives obtained an arrest warrant for two counts of murder in the second degree for a 17-year-old juvenile male suspect. The juvenile male, who is a resident of Colorado Springs, was subsequently taken into custody here in Colorado Springs.
CSPD would like to thank the United States Marshal’s Service and the Reno Nevada Police Department for their assistance in this investigation.
This is still an active investigation and 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.
Update January 14, 2022
On January 10, 2022, the El Paso County Coroner’s Office completed the autopsies for both deceased males. The decedents have been identified as 13-year-old Marcus Venezio-Hernandez and 15-year-old Nevean Tafoya, both residents of Pueblo, Colorado. Mr. Venezio-Hernandez’s and Mr. Tafoya’s deaths were ruled homicides.
Mr. Venezio-Hernandez’s and Mr. Tafoya’s deaths are the first and second homicide investigations in the City of Colorado Springs in 2022. The CSPD investigated zero homicides at this time last year.
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.
Original release
On January 9, 2022, at approximately 1:19 A.M., the Colorado Springs Police Department’s (CSPD) communication center received multiple calls reporting shots fired in the 1900 block of South Chelton Road. CSPD patrol officers were immediately dispatched to the area and located several individuals with gunshot wounds. The officers also located two juvenile males deceased on scene. The injured individuals were treated and released from a local hospital for non-life-threatening injuries. There were a total of three people transported, two adults and one juvenile.
At approximately 1:24 A.M., the communication center received a call for service from the 2400 block of Lexington Village Lane reporting that a juvenile male had arrived at a private residence with apparent gunshot wounds. Officers along with medical personnel arrived and the juvenile male was transported to a local hospital with serious, but non-life-threatening injuries. This male was admitted for ongoing medical treatment.
Detectives from CSPD’s Violent Crime Section responded and assumed responsibility for the investigation into the shooting. Multiple interviews have been conducted and investigators have determined that the juvenile male contacted on Lexington Village Lane was involved in the shooting that occurred several minutes before on South Chelton Road. While the El Paso County Coroner’s Office will make the cause and manner of death determination, this case is being investigated as a homicide. The names of the deceased individuals will not be released until they have been positively identified by the coroner and next of kin notifications have been made. No arrests have been made at this time and it is an active and open investigation. Further updates 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.