DENVER (KDVR) — A robbery suspect who led Brighton police on a chase, while shooting at them is now being charged with homicide in a separate incident, the Brighton Police Department said in a press release on Monday evening.
James Benavidez, 50, was arrested after he allegedly robbed someone at a Murphy Express while armed, before leading police on a chase in a stolen vehicle. During the chase, police said that Benavidez shot at them. Officers returned fire, hitting him.
He was arrested and taken to a hospital after the pursuit.
On Monday evening, Brighton police connected Benavidez to another crime. He now faces a homicide charge from the separate incident.
On Aug. 29, the day after the police chase, around 9:15 a.m., police responded to a report of an abandoned vehicle. Officers dispatched to the 200 block of North 6th Avenue and found the vehicle, and Keeley Koff, an alleged pregnant woman, 32, dead inside it from an apparent gunshot wound.
A preliminary investigation indicated that Koff and Benavidez were associated with one another, but the type of relationship was not reported.
Benavidez was booked into the Adams County Jail on charges, including:
- First-degree motor vehicle theft
- First-degree murder
- Unlawful termination of pregnancy
- Weapon possession by a previous offender
- Habitual domestic violence offender
The case was filed with the 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.
Anthony Sutton is a business strategist and writer with a passion for management, leadership, and entrepreneurship. With years of experience in the corporate world, he shares insights on business growth, strategy, and innovation through management-opleiding.org.
