(PUEBLO, Colo.) — The Pueblo Police Department (PPD) has made an arrest in a Christmas Day homicide in which the victim was found lying in a driveway near Lake Minnequa.
According to PPD, 36-year-old Justin Sapeda was found lying in a driveway in the 2600 block of Himes Avenue, west of Lake Minnequa, around 7 a.m. on Christmas morning, Dec. 25, 2024. Police originally responded to a report of an unconscious man on the sidewalk, but when they arrived, they determined Sapeda was dead.
On Thursday, Jan. 2, PPD announced that 36-year-old Joseph Rodriguez has been arrested on a first degree murder charge in connection to Sapeda’s death. He was booked into the Pueblo County Detention Center on Dec. 31.
Sapeda’s death marked the 19th homicide in Pueblo in 2024. PPD is also investigating suspicious deaths that happened in September and December of 2024 that have not been deemed homicides yet.
