(COLORADO SPRINGS) — The suspect and victim in a fatal shooting that allegedly stemmed from a road rage incident on East Platte Avenue have been identified.
According to the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD), the altercation began when two drivers were involved in a disturbance and pulled to the side of the road. A total of three cars pulled over, and the drivers got out of their cars and got into a verbal argument that turned physical.
The driver of one of the cars, identified as 31-year Howard Heyliger, allegedly retrieved a gun and fired at one of the other drivers. The victim, 39-year-old Matthew Helberg, died on scene.
Heyliger and the other driver were taken to the Police Operations Center for interviews, and Heyliger was then arrested on charges of second degree murder. He is due in court on July 8.
While the El Paso County Coroner will determine the official cause and manner of Helberg’s death, the case is being investigated as a homicide, CSPD said. The investigation remains active and ongoing, and CSPD asks anyone with additional information on this incident to contact police at (719) 444-7000 or Pikes Peak Area Crime Stoppers at (719) 634-7867.
This was the 19th homicide in Colorado Springs in 2025. At the same time in 2024, there had been 21 homicides.
