In a press conference Wednesday, Pueblo Police Chief Chris Noeller said Colorado’s “soft-on-crime legislation” led to a shootout that left three officers injured and the suspect dead on Tuesday.
Noeller said the suspect, Billy Soto, was a gang member with 14 felony arrests, most of which were pleaded down to misdemeanors. He was wanted in connection with a Feb. 3 shooting that occurred while he was out on bond.
On Tuesday evening, police responded to a call about shots fired and an injured officer. When backup arrived, Soto fired an additional 80 rounds in the ensuing gunfire exchange.
“Our officers were ambushed and shot by a malicious person who should have been in jail, but wasn’t,” Noeller said. “The blood of my officers lays at the steps of the Capitol.” He added that the officers are in stable condition, but “have a long road to recovery.“