On Wednesday, December 15, 2021, at approximately 10:18 PM, the Colorado Springs Police Department’s (CSPD) Communication Center received a report of shooting victims in the parking lot of the CSPD Falcon Division substation. CSPD officers and medical personnel responded and located two adult males both suffering from gunshot wounds inside of a vehicle that was parked in the parking lot. Based on the preliminary investigation by patrol officers, officers were able to determine the shooting occurred at a business in the 8100 block of North Academy Boulevard, prior to the victims driving to the CSPD substation.
Both victims were transported to a local hospital due to their injuries which were initially described as being non-life-threatening. One adult male was treated and eventually released from the hospital. The other adult male was admitted for further medical treatment. Detectives from CSPD’s Homicide/Assault Unit assumed responsibility for this investigation on Thursday, December 16, 2021.
On Saturday, January 8, 2022, detectives were notified by medical staff that the adult male who had still been in the hospital died as a result of his injuries sustained during the shooting on December 15, 2021.
On Tuesday, January 11, 2022, the El Paso County Coroner’s Office conducted an autopsy of the adult male and he has been identified as 36-year-old Ernesto Villagran of Colorado Springs. Mr. Villagran’s death is the 44th homicide investigation in the City of Colorado Springs in 2021. The CSPD investigated 39 homicides at that time in 2020.
This continues to be an active and open investigation. Further details will be released in the future as appropriate.
Anyone with information or who is a witness to this investigation is asked to call the Colorado Springs Police Department at (719) 444-7000; or if you wish to remain anonymous, you may call the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at (719) 634-STOP (7867) or 1-800-222-8477.