ADAMS COUNTY, Colo. — An Adams County judge on Thursday sentenced the man convicted of fatally shooting a firefighter who was driving on Interstate 70 with his family to life in prison plus an additional 192 years.
John Jaros, a Glen Haven volunteer firefighter, was shot and killed while driving with his wife and children on Interstate 70 near Tower Road on June 18, 2022.
On Friday, a jury convicted Jeremy Rocha, now 22, on one count of second-degree murder. The jury also convicted him on one count of first-degree murder - extreme indifference and four counts of attempted murder related to family members who were in the truck with Jaros.
The first-degree murder conviction carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison. In addition, Rocha was sentenced to 48 years for each of the attempted murder convictions, for a total of 192 years. That will be served consecutively to the life sentence, according to the DA's office.
In her victim impact statement, John’s wife, Katherine Jaros, described who he was and who he will always be to their family.
“John was a man who was generous, loving, thoughtful and hardworking,” Katherine Jaros said. “He was a son, brother, nephew, loving husband, fiercely loyal friend.”
Katherine Jaros said the title he cared most about was being a father.
“For 695 days, I could not fully be the mother I so desired to be,” Katherine Jaros said. “I could not hold my children and comfort them as they shared their most painful recollection of June 18th, 2022.”
Before sentencing, Katherine Jaros said she will request nothing more from the court than what is just and fair.
“Ryan, Sal and Gretchen have been robbed of adventure days with Dad, cuddles in the morning, camping trips, and all of the knowledge that John had wanted to pass on,” Katherine Jaros said.
The Adams County District Attorney, Brian Mason, said it was a tough day for both sides of the courtroom.
“There are no winners today at a sentencing hearing of this nature,” Mason said. “The Jaros family cannot get back their husband and father, and the defendant will now go to prison for life.”
Jeremy Rocha’s sister, Jenna, said her family was prepared for that sentence.
“I mean we already knew more or less what it would be, but my reaction now is just getting on the ball with getting our appeal,” Jenna Roacha said. “It just hurts because I feel like they’re painting him to be like this type of monster.”
Rocha was arrested and charged in Jaros' killing five days after the shooting.
According to an arrest affidavit, Katherine Jaros told investigators there were two vehicles slowing traffic down purposefully to allow two other vehicles to race.
John Jaros passed the two slowed-down vehicles on the left shoulder of the interstate. According to Katherine, he might have "brake-checked" the first two cars when he re-entered the driving lane.
Katherine said she heard at least four gunshots and saw her husband slump over, the affidavit says.
At his trial, Rocha claimed self-defense and said that Jaros sped up to catch up with them as they raced and then rammed one of the other vehicles.
"I see this Camaro kind of lose control. As he is losing control, this white truck is starting to chase me down. I am going about 90 mph at this point, and it's coming up behind me fairly quick," Rocha said. "And I just seen him ram into this black Camaro, so at this point, I'm scared. I'm not sure what is going to happen next."
He also claimed that at one point Jaros' truck was parallel to his vehicle and that he saw Jaros point a gun at him, which prompted him to fire his weapon.
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