Murder Victim's Family Talks About Search For Killer
LITTLETON, Colo. (CBS4)- The family of a murder victim is talking about their loved one while police continue to ask for the public's help in catching the killer.
Police rushed to 8122 Southpark Lane in the area of West Mineral Avenue and South Windermere Street on a report of a shooting about 5:30 a.m. March 18.
Two men had arrived early to plow the parking lot before everyone in the adjacent office building arrived.
When officers arrived they found Jaime Albert Villarreal, 23, from Thornton deceased from a gunshot wound.
Villarreal's family talked about what an impact his death has on the community.
"Jaime was an amazing man," said Villarreal's fiancée Natasha Espinoza. "He was the type to put everybody before himself. If it came down to it he'd put friends, family, cousins, everybody before himself for anything."
"Our son was one-of-a-kind and when I say one-of-a-kind, I mean one-of-a-kind," said Villarreal's mother Ericka.
"Jaime was an amazing brother to me," said Villarreal's brother Javid. "One of the memories I have is when I would get out of school and he's have the fishing pole and tell me to hop in the car and we'd go fishing."
"Jaime was an amazing dad, he loved his kids so much, they were his world," said Espinoza.
Another male victim had also been shot but was rushed to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries. He was able to help investigators with the sketch of one of the suspects.
In addition to the sketch police say the two men were possibly Hispanic in their 20s with thin builds, clean shaven and dressed in black.
Investigators say Villarreal's vehicle was stolen in the carjacking -- a Ford pickup truck with a snow plow attached. A short time later officers found the pickup abandoned and on fire about two miles away near Broadway and Jamison.
"He didn't deserve any of this, nobody does," said Espinoza. "We had our whole life planned out and in a matter of minutes... it's gone."
Arson investigators examined the truck for evidence in hopes it will lead them to the suspects.
Villarreal's mother remembers him wanting children so they could also grow up to be Denver Broncos fans, a family tradition.
"Sure enough he succeeded not once but twice because he's got two beautiful kids," said Ericka. "He was an amazing dad. He was a lovable brother and son who can never be replaced. He did not deserve to go at such a young age. At 23 years old his life was just beginning."
"He was always there for me if I was hurt and he would always go to my games, he loved sports, he loved teaching me, he always wanted me to be as good as him, and do what he did," said Javid.
YouTube video released by detectives last month shows the plow driving by followed by two suspects walking along the road in the same direction as the plow.
"We want justice for him and I want people to come forward with any information on anything that they may know," said Espinoza. "We need this for his family, for us, for his kids. His kids need to know. We need to know what happened and why."
"We ask the public to please come forward if you have any information that can help these detectives with any leads to bring this person or people that did this to our son," said Ericka. "Nothing will ever bring him back but we need peace in our lives and we need justice."
A GoFundMe account has been established for Landon, Villarreal's son.
Another GoFundMe account has been established for Villarreal's daughter, Leah.
Additional Information From The Littleton Police Department
If you can identify this suspect or have any information regarding this incident, please notify Detective Brannan at 303-795-3894, Detective Goodman at 303-795-3896, or the Littleton Police Department at 303-794-1551. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP(7867) or by using the FREE Metro Denver Crime Stoppers mobile app available for Apple, Android and select BlackBerry devices. All tipsters remain anonymous and are eligible for an award of up to $2,000.