Rocky Ford shooting leads to protest and investigation. The shooting of a man named Jack Jacquez by James Ashby, a Rocky Ford police officer, has prompted hundreds of Colorado residents to take to the streets, demand justice and answers.
The deadly shooting of a 27-year-old man in Rocky Ford, Colorado, had hundreds of friends and family members protesting in the streets over the weekend.
On October 12th, at around 2 AM, members of the Rocky Ford Police Department stormed into Jack Jacquez‘s house, located at 3rd Street near Swink Avenue. According to the man’s pregnant fiancée, Mariah Jacquez, he had just returned home when the cops came in and tried to arrest him. Mariah claimed that Jack was unarmed when the shooting occurred. Jacquez who is four months pregnant with a baby girl, said:
“He was standing next to his mom, his back turned toward the officer and then he shot him twice in the back and then pepper sprayed him. Then they handcuffed my fiancé, for reasons I don’t know why. And the mom went to call the cops and the cop took her phone and threw it against the wall.”
Sara Lindenmuth who is the victim’s sister-in-law and also witnessed the shooting said that Jacquez was shot several times before being taken to Arkansas Valley Regional Medical Center in La Junta, where he died.
It was later revealed that Rocky Ford Police and United States Navy officer, James Ashby is the one who killed Jacquez. Ashby has been put on administrative leave pending the investigation and has refused to talk to the media.
Ashby joined the Rocky Ford Police Department in June of this year after leaving the Walsenburg Police Department. Jacquez was arrested in the past for possession of drugs, theft and DUI.
A Facebook page, entitled “Justice for Jay Jacquez,” created by family members has drawn more than 2,700 likes. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation has opened an investigation into the shooting.
Our family sends out our prayers for the family of Jack Jacquez. This probably one of the worst fears a parent could have. We trust our law enforcement to protect and to serve but not to do what has happened to this young man. My heart goes out to his mother I cannot imagine the pain the family must be going through. Jack was a kind young man and did not deserve what happened to him. I do not think ANYONE would deserve what happened. I think we need to look at the Rocky Ford PD for Shoot first ask questions later. It is sad to say but it is true in this case. There is no reason or defense for this police officer and I sure hope he gets prosecuted to the FULL EXTENT OF THE LAW!