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Man faces murder charge after fatal shooting at Arvada townhouse

The victim, 23-year-old Joseph McCreery, was found dead in the basement of the townhouse.

ARVADA, Colo. — A 20-year-old man who was arrested in connection with a fatal shooting at a townhouse in Arvada shot the victim nine times after he said the victim slashed him in the face with a knife, according to an affidavit for his arrest from the Arvada Police Department (APD).

Officers responded to 11530 West 70th Place for a report of a shooting at 1:41 p.m. Monday and found the victim, Joseph McCreery, 23, dead in the basement. 

Responding officers also contacted Anthony Aguilera-Rivera, 20, who made the 911 call to report the shooting, according to the affidavit.

During that call, Aguilera-Rivera said he had argued with the victim and the victim slashed him, the affidavit says. After that, he reported that he shot the victim "twice in the back" according to the document and added that he "had to shoot him once in the head."

Aguilera-Rivera said the knife and victim were in the basement but the gun was in the kitchen, the affidavit says.

Aguilera-Rivera called McCreery his brother-in-law and said that he shot McCreery after McCreery cut him in the face with a knife, the affidavit says.

Credit: Arvada PD
Anthony Aguilera-Rivera

Investigators noted three cuts on Aguilera-Rivera's face but said they did not observe any blood on a serrated knife found at the crime scene, according to the affidavit.

Aguilera-Rivera had "superficial wounds" and did not require medical treatment, according to the document. While Aguilera-Rivera indicated he shot the victim three times, the affidavit indicates the victim was struck nine times.

Aguilera-Rivera lived in the upstairs portion of the townhouse with his mother and his sister, and the victim lived in the basement area, the affidavit says.

His sister reported that the downstairs was more like a separate apartment and that her brother "would have no reason to go in the basement at any time."

About four minutes prior to the 911 call, video from a doorbell camera showed Aguilera-Rivera walking from a truck in the parking just west of the townhouse.

Investigators asked Aguilera-Rivera about his encounter with McCreery when he returned home but he only said, according to the affidavit, that it appeared McCreery had "a bad day at work."

When asked to elaborate, he indicated he "did not want to get things twisted up" and referenced wanting to retain a lawyer, the affidavit says. At that point, his interview was ended.

Aguilera-Rivera's mother and sister were both interviewed and neither knew of any prior issues between the two men. When told about the incident, his sister referenced that Aguilera-Rivera occasionally went into "spurts of rage."

The gun used in the shooting was purchased by the suspect's mother on Nov. 23, according to the affidavit. Aguilera-Rivera indicated it was underneath his bed in his upstairs bedroom prior to the shooting but was "vague," according to the affidavit, about how he "eventually took possession of the firearm." 

Aguilera-Rivera was being held at the Jefferson County jail for investigation of first-degree murder.

Credit: 9NEWS

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