PUEBLO, Colorado — Evie Jesica Gallegos was just 20 when she was found shot to death in her own Pueblo home early Thursday. It was just before 3:30 a.m. when officers responded to shots fired inside a residence on the 2800 block of East 14th Street. Inside, they found Gallegos unresponsive and another woman wounded by gunfire. That second victim was taken to a nearby hospital with injuries that are not life threatening.
The Pueblo County Coroner’s Office confirmed Gallegos’ identity later Thursday. Her family has been notified and is trying to make sense of a loss that came without warning. Friends have spoken about her kindness and the way she lit up conversations, describing her death as senseless and abrupt. In a community where everyone feels connected, her absence is palpable on street corners, in school hallways, and among families who knew her.
Police have not yet made an arrest, but they have issued a warrant for 20-year-old Leandro Medina, charging him with first-degree murder and first-degree assault. Authorities describe Medina as dangerous and likely armed. Law enforcement is calling on anyone with information to reach out, stressing that help from the public could be vital in bringing him in safely.
The investigation is only beginning, with questions about motive and circumstance still unanswered. Detectives are combing through evidence, interviewing neighbors, and pursuing clues that might lead them to Medina. In interviews, police have said they are committed to finding justice for Gallegos and clarity for her grieving family.
This homicide is the second in Pueblo so far in 2026, coming only weeks after a separate fatal shooting earlier in the month. Crime has been on the minds of many residents, with community meetings and discussions about safety growing more frequent. The loss of Gallegos adds urgency to those conversations about prevention and protection.
Friends and classmates have been sharing memories and photos, holding up signs of remembrance, and hosting small gatherings to talk about the impact she had on them. Her name has become a focal point for collective grief, with many saying they hope her death will not be in vain.
While the search for Medina continues, the community is left trying to stitch back a sense of normalcy. Support networks are rallying around the wounded victim, Gallegos’ family, and neighbors who witnessed the aftermath. Conversations about healing are beginning even as the search for answers carries on.
In a neighborhood now marked by tragedy, the call for justice and peace echoes in conversations from porches to coffee shops, a reminder of how deeply one life can touch many.
