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16-year-old charged as adult in connection to fatal shooting in Aurora

An argument broke out before shots were fired March 24 at a venue in the 2000 block of Tower Road, police said.

AURORA, Colo. — A 16-year-old boy has been charged in connection with a fatal shooting that occurred earlier this month at a large gathering in Aurora.

On March 24, 19-year-old Joseph Andres Martinez was killed and another man was wounded when gunfire erupted at a large gathering in northwest Aurora, police said.

On Tuesday, the district attorney's office announced that Xavier Garcia, 16, was charged as an adult with first-degree murder and possession of a handgun by a juvenile. He's due in court Wednesday morning.

The shooting was reported at a rental hall in the 2000 block of North Tower Road about 11:30 p.m. Saturday. The venue was rented out for a large party that included young adults and juveniles, police said. 

Officers found Martinez inside the building. He was taken to a hospital where he later died, police said. The other victim's injuries aren't considered to be life-threatening.

An argument had occurred between people who knew one another, which escalated to the shooting. More shots were fired as people emptied into the rental hall's parking lot; however, no one else was hit by gunfire, police said.

Videos and witness testimony from the event helped police identify the suspect, police said.

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