Man charged with murder after opening fire at Commerce City home

The 21-year-old man accused of a fatal shooting in Commerce City last week allegedly opened fire in the home after a friend got into a fight, police say.

Ethan Jennings, 21, was charged last week with first-degree murder, two counts of attempted first-degree murder and two counts of first-degree assault – all felonies – in connection with the 6 shooting September that killed 20-year-old Makayla. Lawrence. Two other victims were shot and taken to hospital.

Three days after the shooting — after allegedly leading northern Colorado police on a high-speed chase in a stolen sedan — Justin Shull, 18, and Virginia Maestas, 19, were arrested alongside Jennings in connection with the shooting. according to an arrest affidavit from the Commerce City Police Department.

Shull was arrested and charged with second-degree assault, second-degree theft of a motor vehicle, fleeing a vehicle causing injury, resisting arrest, obstructing a peace officer, possession of burglary tools, reckless driving, speeding 40 mph over the limit, and leaving the scene of the incident. an accident and driving under restraint, according to court records.

The 18-year-old posted his $10,000 bond on Sept. 16 and failed to appear for his deliberation hearing on Sept. 19, according to court records.

Maestas was arrested and charged with first-degree motor vehicle theft, fleeing a vehicle causing injury, second-degree assault, resisting arrest, obstructing a peace officer, possession of burglary tools, reckless driving and driving under duress, according to court records.

The 19-year-old man is being held in the Weld County Jail on $10,000 bail and is next due in court for a preliminary hearing on Oct. 1, according to court records.

Police said the Sept. 6 shooting occurred after the two injured victims — Jacob Shull and his wife, Jacqueline Esquibel — were involved in a fight with Maestas.

The couple was at the same Commerce City home where the shooting occurred later that day to check on a friend, according to the affidavit. There, Esquibel and Maestas got into a fight, which ultimately involved Justin Shull.

According to the affidavit, all three victims returned home that night. Maestas was also present, accompanied by two men wearing ski masks. When Jacob Shull, Esquibel and Lawrence attempted to leave the house, all three were hit by gunfire and Lawrence was killed.

Surveillance footage showed a white truck leaving the scene. Police had followed the same truck the day before and later determined it was stolen, according to the affidavit. Surveillance footage from that day showed Maestas with a man wearing a ski mask and black clothing, police said.