(COLORADO SPRINGS) — Charges have been dropped against the people arrested in connection to the January shooting death of 19-year-old Jonah Thirkill in Security-Widefield.
Five people were arrested in connection to the shooting: 18-year-old Ami Gallegos, 20-year-old Noah Watkins, 20-year-old Zion Alexander Tilmon, as well as two minors. Gallegos and Watkins were arrested on April 4, and Tilmon turned himself in on April 7.
The shooting occurred around 1 a.m. on Jan. 16 in the 7000 block of Dove Creek Circle, near Fontaine and South Powers Boulevard. When deputies with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office (EPSO) arrived on scene, they found three people with gunshot wounds. Two of the people were taken to the hospital, but Thirkill was pronounced dead on scene.
The five suspects in the case were arrested on charges of second degree murder, aggravated robbery, attempted second degree murder, assault, theft, menacing, and prohibited use of weapons.
On Thursday, June 26, the 4th Judicial District Attorney’s (DA) Office confirmed to FOX21 News that the charges against those arrested in the case had been dropped on June 25 due to insufficient evidence.
“Prosecutors moved to dismiss charges related to Thirkill’s death because the evidence known to our office, at this time, is insufficient to satisfy our burden of proof at trial, which is proof beyond a reasonable doubt. Due to that insufficiency of evidence, there is no reasonable likelihood of success at trial,” said a spokesperson for the DA’s Office.
The DA’s Office explained that the charges were dismissed “without prejudice,” which means they are subject to be re-filed in the future. “To that end, an active investigation into Thirkill’s death remains open,” the DA’s Office said.
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