ARVADA, Colo. — Formal charges have been filed against the man accused of killing an Arvada police officer and injuring another person in a shooting on Sept. 11, the First Judicial District Attorney's Office said.
Sonny Almanza, 31, is charged in connection with the death of Arvada Police Department Officer Dillon Vakoff, 27. Almanza is also accused of injuring a woman in the same shooting.
> Video above: Remembering Arvada police officer Dillon Vakoff
Almanza faces the following charges:
- Three courts of first-degree murder
- Two counts of attempted murder
- One count of second-degree assault
- One count of possession of a weapon by a previous offender
- One county of large-capacity magazine prohibited - during crime
- One count of first-degree trespassing
- Two crime-of-violence sentence enhancers
The shooting happened around 1:45 a.m., Sept. 11, when Vakoff and another officer responded to a family disturbance on West 51st Avenue near the intersection with Marshall Street.
When the officers responded, they found a chaotic scene with people in the street. While the officers tried to separate several "belligerent and uncooperative" people, Almanza fired shots that hit a woman, police said. The officers and Almanza exchanged gunfire. Almanza shot Vakoff and was also shot, police said.
Vakoff was laid to rest Friday morning. He was remembered for his strong work ethic, infectious laugh and willingness to go above and beyond in everything he did.
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The other victim was hospitalized for her injuries and is expected to survive.
Almanza was also taken to the hospital. When he was released on Sept. 13, officers used Vakoff's handcuffs to take him into custody.
Almanza's next court appearance is set for Tuesday.
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