Brothers Sentenced to Decades in Prison for Drive-By Shooting at Denver Aquarium
Two brothers, Antonio Vasquez, 21, and Jason Trujillo Jr., 19, were sentenced to decades in prison after pleading guilty to second-degree murder for a drive-by shooting that took the life of a 19-year-old outside Denver’s Downtown Aquarium, according to the district attorney’s office.
The incident occurred on February 14, 2024, when Vasquez and Trujillo shot and killed Dacien Salazar, who was visiting from Pueblo. Investigators determined that Salazar was targeted by the brothers, who traveled from southern Colorado with the intent to harm him.
Prior to the shooting, Salazar had received threats from gang members and Trujillo, as reported by his friends to the police.
Vasquez, the shooter, was sentenced to 40 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections, while Trujillo, who was driving the vehicle, received a 20-year sentence.
Denver District Attorney John Walsh expressed the seriousness of the crime, stating, “Dacien Salazar’s murder was not just a tragedy for his friends and family, it was a crime that shocked countless Denver residents – a shooting in broad daylight in a busy public place.”
Walsh continued, “The sentences handed down to Antonio Vasquez and Jason Trujillo ensure that they will pay a heavy price for their cold-blooded actions.”
Vasquez was represented by the Office of the Colorado State Public Defender, while an attorney for Trujillo did not provide immediate comment.
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