A 22-year-old street racer faces prison time after being convicted of fatally shooting a man the day before Father’s Day, Colorado officials said.
On June 18, 2022, Jeremy Rocha was street racing his Ford Mustang on a highway in Adam’s County, according to a May 17 news release from the district attorney’s office.
John Jaros, 37, was driving to a campground with his three children and wife when he decided to pass Rocha on the highway, prosecutors said.
“It didn’t matter if it was a friend or a stranger, if John saw a need he could meet, he would meet it,” Jaros’ obituary said.
After Jaros passed Rocha, Rocha became “agitated” and overtook his truck before pointing a gun at the vehicle and firing nine bullets, officials said.
Jaros, who was called a “loving” husband and father, was fatally shot, prosecutors said. His wife and children were unharmed.
“From the outside, John seems like a hard man. For those who managed to get past the wall he built around himself, he had a heart of gold,” the volunteer firefighter’s obituary said.
After Aurora police officers reviewed the video footage and spoke with witnesses, investigators were led to Rocha, officials said.
“Mr. Rocha brutally murdered John Jaros and nearly slaughtered an entire family,” District Attorney Brian Mason said in the news release. “This was a brutal, senseless and unimaginable crime.”
At his trial, Rocha presented “a self-defense theory,” but he was ultimately convicted of murder, also first-degree, on May 17, officials said.
The conviction carries a penalty of life in prison without the possibility of parole, prosecutors said.
Rocha will be sentenced on May 23, officials said.
Adams County is about a 50-mile drive northeast of Denver.
Accused gunman buries dead man and poses as kidnapper of victim’s girlfriend, California officers say
15-year-old fatally shoots cousin as he tries to take him home from party, Tennessee police say
A note on the door threatened the dog for barking, prompting her to be shot, Minnesota police say
