DENVER — A 21-year-old man has been charged with murder related to a deadly shooting during a fight in the 3600 block of Park Avenue West late last month, the Denver District Attorney's Office announced.
Oscar Villegas-Ortega appeared in court via WebEx Friday morning due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Just after 10 p.m. on June 27, Denver 911 began receiving calls of a fight and shooting in the parking lot of the Old West Pancake House, an arrest affidavit from the Denver Police Department says.
The back of the Old West Pancake House operates as the Marsico’s El Kora restaurant at night, and on that night the area was rented out for a first birthday party, according to the affidavit.
According to the affidavit, several people were upset about Villegas-Ortega dancing with a woman, who is only identified as his cousin. A witness said several men followed him outside and "jumped him".
Several people tried to intervene and were also injured, the affidavit says.
Both Denver police officers and Denver paramedics responded to a "chaotic scene" and found several injured parties in a parking lot, according to prosecutors.
At some point during the altercation, Fausto Marquez, 30, was shot, according to witnesses.
He was transported to Denver Health Medical Center and pronounced dead. The coroner said he died from a single gunshot wound to the chest.
Villegas-Ortega and another man were also injured and taken to the hospital, the affidavit says.
Villegas-Ortega had "head and facial trauma consistent with an assault" and other "sharp force" injuries to his abdomen and face, according to the affidavit. An officer at the scene found a handgun in his pocket as he patted him down before he was transported to the hospital, the affidavit says.
Villegas-Ortega is charged with one count of first-degree murder, possession of a weapon by a previous offender and with violating bail bond conditions.
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