Juvenile shooting suspect transfer hearing continued to August

THE transfer hearing for the 15-year-old boy accused of shooting Alamosa resident Ricardo Rangel and Alamosa Police Officer Mollee Heeney which was set for Tuesday, April 18, through Friday, April 21 has now been continued to August 21 to August 25. 

The hearing will determine whether there is enough evidence to move the case from juvenile court to adult district court, where the suspect would be charged and tried as an adult. 

The hearing was originally set for the end of January, but the DA’s office and defense attorney have gone back and forth with the sensitive specifics of this case to make sure they have everything in order. Both sides have argued that there has been a lack of communication from each side. A motions hearing has been set for August 14 to make sure everyone is on the same page.

Daniel Brandt, the suspect, appeared in-person on Tuesday. He was first brought in with restraints, but District Court Judge Crista Newmyer-Olsen said there is a chief judge order that doesn’t allow juveniles to appear in cuffs while in court. 

Brandt has been held at the Pueblo Youth Detention Center since his arrest in October of last year. 

During the four-day hearing, Brandt will be transferred from district court in Alamosa to Pueblo Youth Detention Center every day because the San Luis Valley lacks appropriate housing for juvenile suspects. The Alamosa County Sheriff’s Office will be making these transfers twice a day during this hearing. 

Brandt, who is 15, is alleged to have shot Rangel and Heeney just after 4 p.m on October 27, 2022. The incident took place in the 1200 block of Denver Ave. 

Heeney responded to a call of a disturbance and as she arrived on the scene, Brandt reportedly  fired at her “almost immediately.” 

During a press conference in October, Alamosa Police Chief Ken Anderson said, “I’ve worked for this agency for 22 years, and not once have I dealt with anything like this.”

Heeney was shot in the leg and the shoulder. She was flown to a Front Range hospital where she underwent intensive surgery. Heeney has recovered well, according to Anderson, and is currently on light office duty.

Rangel, the bystander, was shot numerous times and has since made a recovery.