KUSA — The man who admitted to opening fire nearly a year ago at a Thornton Walmart and killing three people has reached a plea deal with prosecutors to avoid the death penalty.
Scott Ostrem, 48, appeared in court on Wednesday afternoon. He pleaded guilty to three counts of first-degree murder, one count of attempted murder and one count of crime of violence.
He faced six counts of first-degree murder and 46 other felony charges in the wake of the incident last Nov. 1 at the store located at 9901 Grant St.
Ostrem faces life in prison without the possibility of parole.
After the hearing, Adams County District Attorney Dave Young said that he was still in the process of determining whether to seek the death penalty when Ostrem offered to plead guilty to murder in exchange for a life sentence.
Young cleared that decision with victims’ families.
“I can’t sit here and tell you that they’re happy, because they’re not,” Young said. “I don’t know that they’ll ever be happy with any resolution in this case. But I think once they get to a sentencing phase they might be able to let the court know what this crime has done to them, it may help bring additional closure to them.”
That sentencing hearing is scheduled Oct. 19. Although the prison term is a foregone conclusion – Ostrem will get life without the possibility of parole – it will offer the families of the victims the chance to speak publicly.
One thing Young said he still doesn’t know is the “why."
“The families would like to know, as well I’m sure as everybody in the public would like to know why this happened,” he said. “But there’s only one person that knows that, and Mr. Ostrem will have an opportunity to make a statement at his sentencing. I don’t know if he’s going to do that or not.”
Ostrem had been expected to go on trial early next year in the murders of Pamela Marques, 52, Carlos Moreno, 66, and Victor Vasquez, 26.
The six counts of first-degree murder included two in each killing. One alleged that Ostrem committed the murders after deliberation, the other that he committed the crimes with extreme indifference.
He also was charged with 45 counts of attempted first-degree murder and a single charge of committing a violent crime, a sentencing enhancer.
Judge Mark Warner entered a “not guilty” plea for Ostrem on all charges at a hearing Aug. 24.
Ostrem has been behind bars, held without bail, since his arrest the morning after the shootings.
The incident unfolded over a little more than 20 seconds as the store bustled with shoppers in the early evening.
Store security cameras captured the gunman parking his car, walking into the store, opening fire, walking out and driving away. That footage clearly showed the man’s Mitsubishi and allowed detectives to locate its car registration and identify Ostrem as the suspect.
Three people died in the shooting last Nov. 1 at the Thornton Walmart at 9901 Grant St.:
Carlos Moreno, 66, was shopping with his wife and daughter and was the first person shot. A single bullet hit him in the shoulder and head, and he died in the store.
Pamela Marques, 52, was near the cash registers with her husband and turned to run after hearing gunfire. She was hit in the head and died a short time later at a hospital.
Victor Vasquez, 26, was at the store with his mother and his fiancée and was hit with the last shot fired. He was hit in the head and died in the store.
Contact 9NEWS reporter Kevin Vaughan with tips about this or any story: kevin.vaughan@9news.com or 303-871-1862.
