Teenager Charged As Adult After Allegedly Killing 16-Year-Old At Denver Skate Park, Officials Say

A teenager is under arrest and being charged as an adult in connection to the slaying of a 16-year-old boy at a skate park in Denver, authorities said.

Owen Darian Ruiz, who is now 17 but 16 at the time of the incident, faces a slew of charges that include first-degree murder, destroying or tampering with physical evidence, and firearm charges, KDVR reported.

Shortly after 6 p.m. on April 23, police responding to multiple reports of a shooting at Denver Skatepark found Juan Herrera-Lozano in the street suffering a gunshot wound, according to the Denver District Attorney’s Office.

Herrera-Lozano was rushed to an area hospital, but he died from his injuries days later.

Witnesses told investigators the victim had locked a pair of keys in the trunk of his car, and someone told him he had a device in his nearby car that could help. When Herrera-Lozano crossed the street, he stopped next to a sedan that authorities claim the suspect was sitting in.

According to one eyewitness account, Ruiz allegedly yelled, “Do you remember me?” He then allegedly shot at Herrera-Lozano, authorities said.

Detectives were able to place Ruiz at Denver Skatepark when Herrera-Lozano was killed because of an ankle monitor that the suspect was wearing, authorities said.