Augustine Vega, (Dawson County Sheriff's Office, Courtesy)
LEXINGTON — A Colorado man who is the suspect of a Denver homicide was arraigned in Dawson County Court following a high-speed pursuit that occurred near Gothenburg.
Augustine Vega, 36, of Colorado Springs, is charged with use of a deadly weapon to commit a felony, a Class 2 felony and operating a motor vehicle to avoid arrest, a Class 4 felony.
Vega was arraigned on Wednesday, March 12 and his bail was set at 10 percent of $250,000. A preliminary hearing date has been set for March 25 at 11 a.m.
According to information from the Nebraska State Patrol, troopers were informed that a person wanted in connection to a Denver homicide was traveling in a Nissan Rogue on Interstate 80 near Gothenburg.
At approximately 9:25 a.m., a trooper located the vehicle and began a pursuit. The suspect refused to stop and fled northbound into Gothenburg.
“The pursuit continued for approximately 25 minutes on county roads in Dawson County before stop sticks were successfully deployed, bringing the vehicle to a stop in the ditch on Highway 30 near just east of Gothenburg,” according to the NSP.
“After numerous attempts to make contact, troopers observed the female passenger to be having what appeared to be a medical emergency. Troopers and deputies quickly approached the vehicle and removed both the driver and the passenger, who were both non-responsive,” the NSP stated.
When removing the female passenger from the vehicle, the trooper though she appeared lifeless, according to the arrest affidavit.
When removing the driver, Vega, from the vehicle, the trooper noted a handgun which he had been sitting on in the car.
Both Vega and the female were administered Narcan, believing they may have overdosed on drugs. It was noted Vega responded to the Narcan does. The female passenger was transported to Gothenburg Health Hospital where she was pronounced deceased.
The trooper noted the deceased female had marks that were consistent with suspected drug use, such as needle injection marks and bruising around the probable injection sites.
Vega would be flown to CHI Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, where he was treated and later released. He would be booked into the Dawson County Jail.
The Dawson County Sheriff’s Office, Gothenburg Police Department, Cozad Police Department, Gothenburg Volunteer Fire Department, Dawson County Attorney, and LifeNet helicopter all assisted in this response.
NSP is coordinating with the Denver Police Department on the ongoing homicide investigation.
According to a CBS News Colorado report, according to the Denver Police Department, a shooting took place in the 2900 block of South Vine St. and one person was pronounced deceased at the scene.
