DENVER — A teen who pleaded guilty in connection with the killing of another teen at a Denver skate park in 2022 has been sentenced.
Owen Ruiz pleaded guilty to second-degree murder in January. Monday, he was sentenced to seven years in the Youth Offender System. He was also given a 32-year suspended sentence in the Colorado Department of Corrections, which he will only serve if he does not successfully complete the Youth Offender System sentence.
“My office asked for a sentence in the Department of Corrections so we are disappointed by today’s outcome," Denver DA Beth McCann said. "However, we respect the decision of the judge, who considered presentations made by the prosecution and the defense, as well as the Herrera-Lozano family."
"We hope the long suspended DOC sentence will result in Mr. Ruiz taking advantage of the programs offered by the Youthful Offender System and turning his life around," McCann said.
Juan Herrera-Lozano died on April 23, 2022, at the skatepark at 2205 19th St. in lower downtown Denver.
Officers who responded found him lying in the street, suffering from a gunshot wound. He was taken to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
In surveillance video of the shooting released by Denver Police in 2022, Herrera-Lozano can be seen crossing the street and speaking with people inside a dark-colored sedan. He begins running from the vehicle. Someone in the car then fires a gun, hitting and killing him.
Denver Police found six fired cartridges in the street, according to the arrest affidavit.
Ruiz was 16 at the time of the shooting but was charged as an adult in the case. He originally faced several charges including first-degree murder and possession of a weapon by a previous offender but those charges were dismissed as part of the plea.
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