District Attorney Pete Weir announced the filing of charges in the police standoff with an armed gunman in Edgewater on July 12, 2019. John Alfonso Cruz, Jr., DOB: 10-20-78 has been charged with 34 counts including 12 counts of Attempted First Degree Murder (F2); four counts of Attempted First Degree Assault (F4); eight counts of Menacing (F5); Arson (F4); three counts of Illegally Discharging a Firearm (F5); two counts of Possession of a Deadly Weapon (F5); Failure to Leave Premises upon request of Peace Officer (M1); and two violent crime counts. Mr. Cruz appeared in court today where he was advised of these charges.
On July 12, 2019 Edgewater police were called to the 2500 block of Fenton Street at 7:30 a.m. on a report that someone was discharging a weapon. According to the arrest affidavit, police identified that shots were coming from 2571 Fenton. Police attempted to contact John Cruz, Jr., who was inside house, but they were unsuccessful. They were able to evacuate John Cruz, Sr. and his wife from the residence. From Mr. Cruz, Sr. they learned that his son, John Cruz, Jr. was inside the house and had several weapons. SWAT was called in and over the next 17 hours, repeated attempts were made to contact Mr. Cruz, Jr., ordering him to come out of the house. Shots were exchanged during the standoff.
SWAT operations concluded at 12:30 a.m. on July 13 with the arrest of Mr. Cruz. There were no injuries to anyone involved.
Mr. Cruz is being held at the Jefferson County jail on $500,000 bond. His preliminary hearing has been set for 2:00 p.m. on August 15, 2019.
The filing of a criminal charge is merely a formal accusation that an individual has committed a crime. A defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty. See Colo. RPC 3.6
