A 22-year-old man has been charged with first-degree murder following a fatal shooting at Crown Hill Cemetery in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, during a late-night gathering to honor a deceased friend. The shooting occurred on the night of August 17, 2024, when a group of friends met to celebrate the birthday of a companion who had been killed two years earlier.
The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office reports that Ryan Trujillo-Falcon was arrested at the scene and charged with first-degree murder, second-degree assault, and unlawfully carrying a concealed weapon. The victim, 20-year-old Geano Eugene Chavez, was fatally shot during an altercation with Trujillo-Falcon. A woman present was also injured during the incident.
According to a police affidavit, Trujillo-Falcon informed investigators that he arrived at Crown Hill Cemetery, located at 7777 West 29th Ave., around 8 p.m. on Sunday with family members and friends to pay respects to a friend who had been shot and killed two years before.
While gathered near the grave, Chavez began feeling ill and mentioned to Trujillo-Falcon that he needed to vomit. Trujillo-Falcon advised him to go to the street if he was going to be sick, but Chavez refused, indicating he would vomit on a nearby grave.
This led to an argument between Trujillo-Falcon, Chavez, and a woman, which escalated when the woman punched Trujillo-Falcon in the mouth, initiating a physical fight between the three.
Trujillo-Falcon reported to the police that the woman pulled him to the ground by his hair. While on the ground, he retrieved his gun from his waistband and struck her in the head with it. Once back on his feet, he instructed Chavez to stop, but when Chavez began approaching him without a visible weapon, Trujillo-Falcon aimed the gun and fired a single shot, hitting Chavez in the chest.
During the police interview, Trujillo-Falcon disclosed that the gun had been concealed in the front of his waistband. He also admitted that he did not have a concealed carry permit and started carrying a gun after his friend was killed two years ago.
Chavez was transported to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The woman who had been struck by Trujillo-Falcon was treated for non-life-threatening injuries and released from the hospital.
Jacki Kelley, spokesperson for the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, noted that this was the first time in her career they had responded to a fatal shooting at a cemetery. She explained that cemeteries are generally places of comfort where people go to remember lost loved ones, and it is highly uncommon for them to be associated with violence.
Trujillo-Falcon remains in custody at the Jefferson County Jail on a $1 million bond. Authorities continue to investigate the incident, and the sheriff’s office is interviewing witnesses who were present during the shooting.
