Second arrest made in Eagle County in connection to Westminster homicide that led to manhunt
35-year-old Charity Johnson will face charges in Adams County alongside 27-year-old Kenny Espinosa, who led authorities on a manhunt around Dotsero Tuesday
Two people were arrested in Eagle County on Tuesday on suspicion of first-degree murder in connection with the shooting death of a man in Westminster.
Kenny Espinosa, 27 years old, and 35-year-old Charity Johnson were arrested separately Tuesday after the vehicle they were traveling in together was spotted and stopped by Eagle County Sheriff’s Office deputies early Tuesday morning.
Espinosa led a team of authorities on a manhunt in the Dotsero area after he fled from the incapacitated vehicle Tuesday morning. Espinosa was taken into custody on the west side of the Dotsero truck parking area around 2 p.m. Tuesday, according to Karina Toscano, Eagle County Sheriff’s Office public information officer.
It is currently unclear when Johnson was arrested.
Both Johnson and Espinosa are now in the custody of the Westminster Police Department.
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Johnson was booked into Adams County Jail around 11 p.m. Tuesday night, Toscano said.
The 17th Judicial District Attorney’s Office (Adams County) will make a formal filing decision on the charges levied against Johnson and Espinosa.
The two were arrested in connection with a homicide that took place in Westminster early Saturday morning.
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Just after 7 a.m. Saturday, Westminster police officers responded to a report of a deceased man in the parking lot of Wolff Run Park. Upon investigation, the man was deceased, with several visible gunshot wounds. Witnesses reported hearing multiple gunshots around 2 a.m. and observing a dark-colored, newer model sedan leaving the park.
The Vail Public Safety Communications Center received information that the same car might be in the Gypsum area around 4 a.m. Tuesday.
Eagle County Sheriff’s Office deputies spotted the vehicle driving westbound on Interstate 70, initiated a pursuit and successfully stopped it with a spike strip near mile marker 130.
According to Eagle County Sheriff James van Beek during a press conference Tuesday afternoon, two men exited the stopped vehicle while pointing a firearm at law enforcement. Shots were exchanged between the parties, leading to one of the men from the car being injured.
That man was treated on the scene for non-life-threatening injuries and taken to a nearby hospital, where he was treated and released. When asked if the man was holding a gun when he was shot, Toscano said, “I would not be able to confirm that.”
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation is conducting an examination into the officer-involved shooting.
The other man, later identified as Espinosa, fled the scene into the Dotsero area, initiating a manhunt that involved multiple agencies, including the Eagle County Special Operations Unit, Colorado State Patrol and Garfield and Grand County deputies. Sometime during the chase, Espinosa lost his shoes and continued barefoot, Toscano confirmed.
There were six people in addition to Espinosa traveling in the vehicle, all of whom were interviewed throughout the day Tuesday by the Eagle County Sheriff’s Office.
At some point Tuesday — authorities have yet to confirm the timing — Johnson, who was traveling with Espinosa in the car, was arrested in connection with the Westminster homicide. She was transported and booked into the Adams County Jail Tuesday night.
Toscano was unable to clarify how the other passengers were connected to Espinosa or Johnson. “It is still an ongoing investigation,” she said.
Espinosa was taken into custody following the extensive search around 2 p.m. Tuesday afternoon. He was treated on the scene for non-life-threatening medical issues and taken to an area hospital.
As of 4 p.m. Tuesday, Espinosa remained at the hospital in the custody of Westminster Police Department, according to Samantha Spitz, Westminster Police Department Public Affairs coordinator. Once treatment is completed, Espinosa will be transported and booked into Adams County Jail.
