Protesters and family justice for police shooting victim Davijo “D Jo” Velarde

Colorado Springs, CO – On November 8, the Colorado Springs Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression (COSAARPR) gathered with family, friends, and loved ones of Davijo “D Jo” Velarde outside the headquarters of Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD) to demand justice. 

Velarde survived a police shooting on November 4 and is hospitalized in serious condition. Family members say neither they nor Velarde’s lawyers are being allowed to visit him in the hospital, and they are not being given any updates on his condition. 

The officer-involved shooting occurred in the parking lot of the Aviator Apartments on North Murray Boulevard around 2:00 p.m. and was carried out by a joint team of CSPD’s Violent Offender Fugitive Task Force Unit and El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Fugitive Impact Team. 

CSPD and El Paso County Sheriff’s Office press statements claim that Velarde fired at officers first, and both CSPD officers and at least one El Paso County deputy returned fire. Residents of the apartment reported hearing dozens of shots and described it sounding “like a warzone.” Several vehicles in the parking lot appeared to have been struck by bullets. Thomas MacLaren School, a K-12 school directly across the street from the apartment complex, went into a lockdown and evacuated students to a nearby church. 

Velarde’s family noted that, when police opened fire, another person was in the car with D Jo. They also raised serious questions about why law enforcement chose such a highly populated location to execute the warrant. The timing was also questioned, as the elementary school across the street was about to get out; police had allegedly been following Velarde with drones for days. 

The warrant was in connection to a fatal fight at a liquor store that occurred on October 31. According to news reports, 40-year-old Brody McDowell escalated an argument inside the store and told Velarde he would be waiting for him outside to fight. McDowell swung at Velarde when he exited the store, and Velarde allegedly fired a shot that killed McDowell.  

Organizers, alongside D Jo’s loved ones, spoke about the need for police accountability and justice. COSAARPR member Genevieve Richard condemned CSPD’s actions, and spoke about the different justice system Black and brown people face compared to white people, drawing connections between D Jo’s case and Anthony Padilla, another victim of police violence fatally shot in the back in 2023. 

Richard stated, “Black and brown people are subjected to a presumption of guilt. Whether or not D Jo is guilty, cops are not the judge, jury, and executioner!”  

Elizabeth Velarde, D Jo’s wife, highlighted his humanity, noting that “D Jo wasn’t a perfect person, but at the end of the day he’s still a person. He’s still a human being who has a family who loves him and cares for him, and the way they executed the stop on him, the way they came out with their guns drawn in a residential and school area was not right. That was not fair to him, his loved ones, or anyone in that community at all. We want justice for him and we want a fair trial!” 

Velarde’s aunt Raven Rivera stated, “I don’t agree with how the police handled things; they should not have opened fire next to a school. I think something needs to happen to where they’re held accountable for their actions.”

Rivera continued, “D Jo, we love you and we’re all here to support you and we hope that you pull through. Just know that you’re in all of our prayers and our thoughts and we love you, kid!”

The group held signs with photos of D Jo, and chanted “Justice for D Jo,” and “Transparency now.”

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