JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colorado — A 41-year-old man pleaded guilty to attempted murder and attempted first-degree assault in a case stemming from a July standoff with police in Edgewater, the Jefferson County District Attorney announced Tuesday.
John Alfonso Cruz Jr. had been charged with 34 counts following the July 12 incident at 2751 Fenton in Edgewater. Edgewater is a small city south of Wheat Ridge and west of Denver.
Police responded to the home at around 7:30 a.m. on reports that someone was discharging a weapon.
An arrest affidavit shows the subsequent events that unfolded:
- Police tried to contact Cruz, who was inside the home, but were unsuccessful.
- John Cruz Sr. and his wife were evacuated from the house.
- Police learned Cruz Jr. had several weapons in the house.
- SWAT was called in and, over the course of 17 hours, attempted to contact Cruz Jr. Shots were also exchanged during this time.
- Officers eventually arrested Cruz Jr., at 12:30 a.m. on July 13.
No one was injured during the standoff.
Cruz will be sentenced in April and faces 21 to 38 years in prison.
He had initially faced the following charges:
- 12 counts of attempted first-degree murder
- Four counts of attempted first-degree assault
- Eight counts of menacing
- Arson
- Three counts of illegally discharging a firearm
- Two counts of possession of a deadly weapon
- Failure to leave premises upon request of Peace Officer
- Two violent crime counts
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