TWO Monte Vista girls were arrested Thursday for reckless manslaughter following the shooting death of a third girl.
Also arrested was Emiliano Vargas, 21, of Monte Vista, who was the owner of the gun and faces charges related to Secure Firearm Storage Requirement under Colorado law and unlawfully providing or permitting a juvenile to possess a handgun.
The death occurred on Sunday, Aug. 7, on the 300 block of Monroe Street. Police since then have been interviewing the juveniles involved to piece together the circumstances and how the shooting occurred that resulted in one death. The names and ages of the victim and juvenile suspects were not released.
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation – Crime Scene Investigations and the Rio Grande County Coroner’s Office assisted with the investigation. The case has been turned over to the 12th Judicial District Attorney’s Office and Crystal Littrell, a senior assistant attorney general who is managing the caseload in the DA office.
The girls arrested for reckless manslaughter and possession of a handgun by juveniles will be held at the Pueblo Youth Detention Center, according to Monte Vista Police.
Vargas, who was the owner of the gun, was booked into the Rio Grande County Jail.
“We remind the public a new law went into effect in July, which requires firearms to be properly and safely secured to prevent access by juveniles,” Monte Vista police said in a statement.