Local news- Press Release
Delta County Colorado - Sheriff s Office Investigators make arrest in January 4th homicide near Austin 05 January 2024 ( news )
Delta County , state Colorado ( By Press Release office)
Jan 05,2024
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Workplace disagreement results in shots fired , one killed . Suspect arrested and charged with First Degree Murder .
January 5 , 2024 | Press Release for Immediate Release – Delta , Colorado
On Thursday , January 4 , 2024 at approximately 9:44 am , the Delta County Emergency Communication Center received a 9 - 1 - 1 call from an individual stating his boss had just been shot at a ranch in the 10 , 000 block of Payne Siding Road near Austin , CO . Deputies with the Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene along with crews from North Fork EMS . Upon arrival , deputies contacted an adult male suspect and the 9 - 1 - 1 caller . Deputies then discovered the body of an adult male who had sustained multiple gunshot wounds . Deputies and EMS performed a rapid assessment to attempt life saving measures but determined the male party was deceased .
Based on information reported and evidence at the scene , Investigators and Deputies with the Sheriff’s Office established sufficient probable cause to arrest Luke Shelton ( 20 ) of Grand Junction . Mr . Shelton was subsequently transported to the Delta County Detention Facility . Following completion of a thorough investigation of the scene , Investigators have charged Mr . Shelton with Murder in the First Degree , a Class 1 Felony , and Tampering with a Deceased Body , a Class 3 Felony . Mr . Shelton is being held on a $500 , 000 bond , based on the seriousness of these crimes .
Investigators with the Sheriff’s Office worked with the 7th Judicial District Attorney’s Office and Colorado Bureau of Investigations to complete the on - scene investigation and collect evidence . The Delta County Coroner’s Office later responded and assisted in the investigation and identification of the deceased and notification of the next of kin . The victim has been identified as John David Vieira ( 58 ) , of Hotchkiss .
Based on information and evidence collected during the investigation , investigators determined the shooting was an isolated incident with no threat to the public , and was the result of a disagreement between employees and their employer at a ranch off Payne Siding Road .
Sheriff Taylor would like to express his deepest condolences to the Vieira family and thank the patrol , investigations and 9 - 1 - 1 communications divisions of the Sheriff’s Office for their prompt , detailed and professional response to this investigation . This remains an active investigation and no additional information is available at this time .
All charges are based upon probable cause and individuals arrested are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law .
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