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Woman killed during kidnapping incident in Denver identified

Police said the suspect in the death of Karol Bedoya Meija, 48, and kidnapping of her grandson was caught near Strasburg Friday night.

DENVER — A suspect is now in custody after police say he shot and killed a woman and kidnapped her 2-year-old grandson. 

The Denver Police Department (DPD) said they were called to a home in the 4700 block of Durham Court in the Montbello neighborhood on reports of a shooting at around 8:15 p.m. Friday.

When officers got there, they found a woman with an apparent gunshot wound. She was pronounced deceased at the scene.

She was identified as Karol Bedoya Meija, 44, by the Denver Office of the Medical Examiner. The death was ruled a homicide due to multiple gunshot wounds.

Police said the suspect, 43-year-old Clemente Flores-Hernandez, had left with the woman's grandson. The woman's son, who is the boy's father, chased after him and called police to tell them where he was. 

Credit: Denver Police Department
Clemente Flores-Hernandez

The suspect was caught after a vehicle pursuit that ended on Interstate 70 near Strasburg, according to police. The child was not hurt.

DPD said Colorado State Patrol and the Adams County Sheriff's Office helped them catch the suspect. 

The incident began as a domestic dispute, according to police. The victim's son told police he was in the basement when he heard numerous gunshots. He said as he went up the stairs, Flores-Hernandez approached him with a gun pointed at him. He said there was a struggle over the gun, during which the gun discharged. The victim's son said Flores-Hernandez then threw the now-empty gun. He said Flores-Hernandez assaulted him by placing his hand around his throat and pushing him up against a wall, causing him to feel like he was going to pass out. 

The victim's son told police Flores-Hernandez took the boy and drove away, and he followed Flores-Hernandez until police caught him. 

According to a probable cause statement, Flores-Hernandez and the victim lived together and had been in a relationship for several years. 

Flores-Hernandez is being held for investigation of first-degree murder, first-degree attempted murder, and first-degree kidnapping.

The woman's name will be released by the Denver Office of the Medical Examiner.

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