A man arrested on suspicion of murder began chasing and shooting at the victim’s car after the driver flashed his headlights at the man for weaving between lanes, according to court documents.
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The driver, 18, told police that the shooter, identified by law enforcement as 23-year-old Lino Sandoval, nearly hit his Toyota Corolla while weaving, according to a copy of Sandoval’s arrest affidavit.
He flashed his headlights at the Chevrolet Traverse, and his two passengers may have verbally insulted Sandoval or made obscene gestures for the near-miss, the driver told investigators.
That set off a chain of events that started with Sandoval chasing the Toyota and ended with one of the passengers shot in the backseat, police said in the affidavit.
When the first gunshots rang out, the front-seat passenger ducked down to the floor to shield himself, according to the affidavit. He turned to get his phone from the passenger in the back to call 911, but found him slumped over and bleeding, police said.
Denver officers responded to the shooting near West 17th Street and Federal Boulevard shortly after 11:30 p.m. on Aug. 21. The driver told dispatchers that someone was chasing their car and shooting at them.
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Police believe the victim killed in the shooting, who has not yet been publicly identified, was shot in the head when bullets shattered the Toyota’s back window, according to the affidavit. He died four days later, on Aug. 25, police said.
The Chevrolet driver continued shooting at the Toyota until the Toyota driver was able to wave at a police officer for help, according to the affidavit. The officer chased the Chevrolet, allowing the Toyota to get to the hospital without being followed, police said.
Investigators used surveillance video, including from Denver’s Axon and Aurora’s Flock cameras, to track the car and ultimately traced it to Sandoval, according to the affidavit.
The man was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder, but has not yet been charged, Denver court records show.
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