DENVER (KDVR) — A suspect in connection with a shooting on Interstate 225 has been charged with first-degree murder after a victim succumbed to his injuries over the weekend, according to police.
The Aurora Police Department said Celin Villeda Orellana, 38, has been formally charged with multiple counts, including first-degree murder, after a shooting incident on I-225 in Aurora resulted in a 30-year-old man dying from his injuries at a local hospital on Sunday.
Orellana was initially arrested on charges of attempted first-degree murder, first-degree assault, menacing and illegal discharge of a firearm. However, following the death of the 30-year-old man, investigators with the Aurora agency worked with the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office to upgrade the previous arrest charge of attempted first-degree murder to a first-degree murder charge after deliberation, which was approved on Monday.
According to the department, Orellana is facing the following charges:
- First-degree murder after deliberation
- First-degree assault
- Menacing
- Illegal discharge of a firearm
The department’s announcement on Tuesday stems from a shooting incident on Oct. 18 on southbound I-225, near East 6th Avenue.
Police reported previously that upon arrival, they discovered a vehicle had collided with a barrier. At that time, officers had also found that the driver, who has now been identified as the 30-year-old man, was suffering from multiple gunshot wounds.
The Aurora Police Department said investigators used Flock Safety cameras equipped with license plate readers to later identify Orellana as the registered owner of the suspected vehicle, which ultimately resulted in the arrest of Orellana on Oct. 24.
The Aurora agency, in consultation with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security Investigations, took Orellana into U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody on possible federal charges for the possession of a handgun allegedly found in Orellana’s vehicle during the arrest.
A spokesperson with ICE told FOX31 previously that Orellana “will remain in ICE custody pending removal or transferred to Aurora to face his charges,” but it is unclear if Orellana remains in federal custody at this time.
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.
