Posted on 03/21/2025 12:01:16 PM PDT by george76
PUEBLO, Colo. - Pueblo officials held a press conference, unveiling new details after a shooting Tuesday night injured three of their officers.
Pueblo Chief of Police Chris Noeller spoke to reporters as he brimmed with emotion and strong words, holding not only anger for the suspect but also for lawmakers.
Chief Noeller said the suspect who is accused of shooting three of his officers had a lengthy record, and should never have been on the street to begin with.
"[He] had a criminal history that spans pages. He had 14 felony arrests, most of which pled to misdemeanors," said the chief.
Police say the suspect, Billy Soto, was a self-admitted MS13 gang member. Chief Noeller says he was out on bond for three felony cases. He was also wanted on attempted murder charges, according to police.
"The blood of my officers lays at the steps of our Capitol," said Chief of Police Chris Noeller.
Chief Noeller said Colorado's "soft on crime" approaches have put his officers and the community in danger, and this is just the latest example.
...
The Pueblo Police Department (PPD) said the shooting of their officers took place in the Bessemer neighborhood.
According to the PPD, an officer responding to a call was shot at in the area of Mesa Avenue and Cedar Street. Other officers and Pueblo County deputies responded to the scene. During the shooting, three officers were wounded, PPD says. As of Tuesday evening, PPD said the officers were all in stable condition at local hospitals.
The PPD said the suspect ran off and continued shooting at officers. Ultimately, police say the suspect was shot and died at the scene. Police initially told KRDO13 that they didn't believe any other suspects were involved in the incident, but said that could change depending on the results of the investigation.
The 10 Judicial District Critical Incident Response Team (CIRT) and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will be investigating the shooting, police said.
KRDO13 also spoke with relatives of Soto who wanted to speak out on his behalf.
"I wanted to let the community know that that was my family member who was shot by the police. We want to apologize to the policemen who are here to protect us and their families," said Ramona Gallegos.
She said their family is heartbroken right now grieving the loss of Soto. Gallegos said Soto grew up in Pueblo and came from a good family.
"We took a loss. But he's far from being a cop killer. He was in fear for his life because there was police brutality on him personally when he was jailed, he was incarcerated," said Gallegos.
Gallegos said that she wishes to God that this didn't happen to her family. She said her heart and voice go out to Billy Junior and their family grieving.
"I don't want his family, my family, or our immediate family to think the worst of him because I know him personally," shared Gallegos, "He was a good person."
She said she remembers changing his diapers as a baby and watching him grow up. Gallegos says Soto would compete with her children for honor roll positions as kids. In the wake of the shootout, she says she wanted to speak out on behalf of her family.
"I do apologize from our family to the police officers that were hurt and their families. You know, I'm very sorry. It wasn't me that did it. But I do know that we lost Billy Junior," said Gallegos.
Her family added that they believe more resources are needed in the Pueblo community to assist people who may be struggling with getting back on their feet, homelessness, and reentering the community.
Colorado Ping ( Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from the list.)
and MCSO deputy, family lauded as ‘heroes’ by Texas fire department (Mesa County, Colorado)..
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/4305611/posts
Doesn't sound like it.
He was turning his life around...
“...police say the suspect was shot and died at the scene.”...............
Waaa, waaa! The trash got taken out finally, but at a cost.
He was just the kind of a person some liberal Obama elected judges like to see running around on the streets, just to give Trump the finger. To top it off they like to be called judge.
If you shoot three cops, you're not very far from being a cop killer.
Yep.
It's ALL about giving Trump (and the rest of us) the finger.
Hey, MS-13 doesn’t take just anybody....
Doesn’t sound like he was a great person.
I wanted to let the community know that that was my family member who was shot by the police. We want to apologize to the policemen who are here to protect us and their families,” said Ramona Gallegos.
She said their family is heartbroken right now grieving the loss of Soto. Gallegos said Soto grew up in Pueblo and came from a good family.
“We took a loss. But he’s far from being a cop killer. He was in fear for his life because there was police brutality on him personally when he was jailed, he was incarcerated,” said Gallegos.
This is exactly what the communists want; total chaos so that they can waltz right in and then take over.
Well, I’m sick and tired of this. Anyone else?
I have no words-—and ABSOLUTELY NO SYMPATHY FOR KILLER’S FAMILY
I suggest the faggot governor and the California inspired legislators in Denver need far more than a simple swift kick in their collective asses.
Then again it looks like Colorado has been fully Californiacated.
Unlicensed 9 News security guard / Matthew Dolloff was charged with murder for the shooting death of Lee Keltner at a only Blacks matter rally..
Then...
https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3949342/posts
“”He was turning his life around...””
Starting community college soon. Going to bible study. Clean and sober for many minutes.
I’d now look into the immigration status of the entire family! In addition, where there’s one ms-13 gang member there’s other roaches. Time for INS,SWAT and the FBI to take over the town and go head busting!
One of the latest euphemisms polluting the universe of discourse is the nouned verb “shooting.” Nobody shoots anyone any more, according the latest stylebooks. Rather, there’s this amorphous, unaccountable entity floating around firing the shots.
If we admit personal responsibility into the conversation, people might start asking just WHO we are ultimately responsible TO.
***He was turning his life around...***
This one was an honor student:
“ Soto would compete with her children for honor roll positions as kids. “
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