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DEADLY SHOOTING DEPUTY: Suspect accused of killing former Marine wife and deputy

DEADLY SHOOTING DEPUTY: Suspect accused of killing former Marine wife and deputy

SECURITY-WIDEFIELD, Colo. (KDVR) – The family of a woman who was found dead in a front yard in unincorporated El Paso County has identified her as Alexandra Rachelle Mittig.

Mittig was one of three people killed after sheriff’s deputies were called to the home on Ponderosa Drive where shots were being fired.

The neighborhood is in an area south of Colorado Springs called Security-Widefield.

Investigators said John Paz is being investigated for killing Mittig and El Paso County Sheriff’s Deputy Andrew Peery. Paz reportedly died of a self-inflicted wound.

Mittig’s mother Rosetta Kelley said, “He shot and killed my baby. She was a wonderful, wonderful girl who loved animals. She was in the home stretch of becoming a vet tech. She went to Colorado State’s Vet Program. She was a Marine and she was an officer in the Marine Corps.”

Court records show Paz and Mittig were married and had filed for a divorce.

“She was a very happy, happy child. She liked camping, hiking and of course animals of any kind. Reptiles you name it,” Mittg’s mother added.

What led up to Mittig’s death and the shooting is not clear.

Her official name has not been released by the medical examiner.

The Colorado Springs Police Department is now leading the investigation into the shooting.

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ANDREW PEERY: Deputy, woman killed in El Paso County shooting

ANDREW PEERY: Deputy, woman killed in El Paso County shooting

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR) — The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office says a deputy, woman and suspect are dead after a shooting Sunday.

The incident started around 5:30 pm when a shooting was reported near Ponderosa Drive and Grand Boulevard. The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office issued a shelter-in-place for the neighborhood in Security-Widefield.

Two deputies with EPSO and one officer from the Fountain Police Department responded to the area. When they arrived, they said they encountered gunfire from John Paz, 33.

Deputy Andrew Peery, 39, was shot while the other deputy and an FPD officer returned gunfire until additional officers and deputies arrived on scene. They immediately tried to save Peery’s life, EPSO said.

Around 8 pm, EPSO said that Peery had been killed in the line of duty.

EPSO said a woman was found dead in the front yard of a home in the area.

Detectives from the Colorado Springs Police Department arrived at the home and obtained a search warrant.

Once they were inside the home, they found the suspect, Paz, dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The coroner’s office will release the cause of death for the deputy, victim and suspect.

EPSO said they believe that Paz killed deputy Peery and the woman found in the front yard of the home, then took his own life.

CSPD will lead the investigation into the shooting.

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I-70 reopens after flooding, water rescues

I-70 reopens after flooding, water rescues

DENVER (KDVR) — Interstate 70 was closed in both directions between York and Steele due to flooding.

FOX31’s Gabby Easterwood was on a scene on I-70 right before the Brighton Boulevard exit where the road was completely flooded. Water rescues were underground.

According to Denver Fire, at I-70 and York, 11 people needed assistance getting out of their cars. Over on 38th and Blake, the crew was working to help eight people.

  • Interstate 70 before the Brighton exit was completely flooded. (KDVR)
  • Interstate 70 before the Brighton exit was completely flooded. (KDVR)
  • Interstate 70 before the Brighton exit was completely flooded. (KDVR)

Drivers stuck on the highway said they had been there for more than an hour. Multiple cars were at a standstill as water levels rose after a strong storm moved down the Interstate 25 corridor.

At 10 pm, I-70 was reopened in both directions.

Gerald Louis, one of those drivers who had to abandoned his vehicle says it was a scary scene. He says he was in waters he felt safe to drive in, but a semi-truck passed by him as he was in the waters. That truck pushing him into deeper waters. “We had to wait for the fire department to get there And pull us out of the water and when they came, they got us all out and just said hey now you’re on your own.” Louis said “It was pretty bad and I have a bunch of stuff in that vehicle that I figure But I’m gonna lose and I gotta figure out a way to get home now.”

This is a developing story and will be updated as information becomes available.

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El Paso deputy killed in line of duty

El Paso deputy killed in line of duty

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. — An El Paso County Sheriff’s (EPSO) Deputy died in the line of duty Sunday responding to a shot fired call in the Security-Widefield area. The suspect is still on the run.

EPSO confirmed that 39-year-old Deputy Andrew Peery has been killed. Peery is survived by his wife Megan and two children. Sheriff Bill Elder said Deputy Peery was a highly dedicated SWAT operator and has been with the sheriff’s office since 2016.

The Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) will be the lead agency investigating this officer-involved shooting.

Governor Jared Polis released the following statement regarding Deputy Peery who was shot and killed in the line of duty.

“My thoughts and condolences are with the family and friends of Deputy Peery and all our neighbors in law enforcement who put their lives at risk to serve others,” said Polis.

CSPD shared its condolences with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office.

“The loss of Deputy Peery is felt by our entire community. Our thoughts are with Deputy Peery’s family & EPSO. Thank you, Deputy Peery, for your courage, service, and sacrifice,” stated CSPD.

Colorado State Patrol (CSP) has also responded to the death of Deputy Peery.

“Our broken hearts are with the [El Paso County Sheriff’s Office] and the blood and blue family of fallen Deputy Peery. EOW watch, sir,” said CSP.

A procession for the fallen Deputy Sheriff started at 8:30 pm Sunday from UCHealth Memorial Hospital Central in Colorado Springs. It went to Nevada and passed the Sheriff’s Office on Vermijo. From there it went to I-25 to the Coroner’s Office.

“Please line the streets with your flags for the family,” says EPSO.

EPSO is actively searching for 33-year-old John Paz, a Hispanic man pictured below.

Law enforcement says he is armed and dangerous

Anyone with information about Paz’s whereabouts is urged to call 911.

Around 5:30 pm Sunday, EPSO ordered a shelter in place for a neighborhood in Security-Widefield. Law enforcement notified the public of a large police presence related to a shooting in the area of ​​Ponderosa Dr. and Grand Blvd. Deputies asked homeowners to secure homes and stay away from doors and windows.

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Missing woman’s remains identified in Clear Creek County

Missing woman's remains identified in Clear Creek County

CLEAR CREEK COUNTY, Colo. (KDVR) — Human remains found in Clear Creek County have been identified as a woman last heard from in February, when she called 911 saying she was stuck in the snow.

Melinda Tafoya-Deltoro, 38, had been missing since Feb. 13, according to the Clear Creek County Sheriff’s Office. How she died is still under investigation.

Tafoya-Deltoro called 911 around 4:30 pm that day and said she was stuck in the snow in the Miner’s Candle area. Responding deputies found her vehicle from her.

But “an extensive search of the area at the time of her disappearance and in the following months showed no signs of the missing woman,” the Sheriff’s Office said.

Teams eventually found her body on June 4, as the snow melted.

FOX31 met Tafoya-Deltoro’s family in Lakewood days after her disappearance. They were looking for answers, saying they did not know why she was up in Clear Creek County in the first place and that she did not snowboard or ski.

Anyone with information on the case is asked to call 303-679-2354.

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