Aurora Police Arrest 35-Year-Old Man in Random I-225 Drive-By Shooting

NEWS RELEASE: The Aurora Police Department Gun Violence Suppression Team announced Friday it has made an arrest in its investigation into a random, nonfatal shooting that occurred earlier this month in central Aurora.
Jose Daniel Ledesma, 35, of Commerce City, was arrested Wednesday night on charges of attempted second-degree murder, menacing, possession of a weapon by a previous offender, prohibited use of a weapon, reckless endangerment, violating a protection order and driving on a revoked license. The charges stem from about 6:30 a.m. Monday, Aug. 3, when Aurora patrol officers responded to a report of a drive-by shooting at the Mississippi Avenue northbound onramp to Interstate 225.
The victim, a 65-year-old man, later told investigators he was in his car stopped in the number 2 lane of eastbound East Mississippi Avenue waiting to turn left onto northbound I-225 when the driver of a silver Dodge Charger – stopped in the same lane a few cars ahead – exited his vehicle, pointed a firearm in the victim’s direction and fired one shot. The victim was not struck by gunfire. The driver of the Charger then drove away from the scene.
The victim later told police there was no contact, nor confrontation before the shooting occurred and he believed he was randomly targeted. The victim was able to provide a license plate number for the Charger, which assisted investigators with identifying Ledesma as the suspect.
Ledesma was arrested Wednesday at his Commerce City home with assistance from the Commerce City-Brighton SWAT team. Formal charges will be filed by the 18th Judicial District Attorney’s Office.
The investigation is active and ongoing, and detectives are still interested in speaking with anyone who witnessed the shooting who hasn’t already spoken with police.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720.913.STOP (7867). Tipsters can remain anonymous and could be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000.