A Pueblo man who police say shot another man in the chest after an argument in the Mesa Junction neighborhood on Dec. 17 has been charged with first-degree assault.
Joel Santiesteban, 29, was arrested on suspicion of first-degree assault, a Class 3 felony, and menacing, a Class 5 felony. He is currently being held in the Pueblo County Jail without bond pending a court appearance.
Pueblo Police investigate the scene of a shooting in the 400 block of Washington Street on Tuesday, December 17, 2024.
Pueblo police were called to the 400 block of Washington Street around 12:30 Tuesday afternoon on a report of a shooting, according to the Pueblo Police Department.
When officers arrived, they found a man with visible gunshot wounds. The victim was transported to a local hospital for treatment and underwent surgery on December 17.
According to Pueblo PD Community Engagement Manager Bianca Hicks, the man was in critical condition but stable as of Dec. 18.
Preliminary reports from police indicated that an altercation began outside a residence on Washington Street and Santiesteban entered a home to retrieve a gun before returning outside and shooting the victim.
Police said Tuesday that Santiesteban claimed the shooting was self-defense.
Santiesteban’s first appearance in Pueblo District Court is scheduled for December 30 in Judge Thomas Flesher’s court.
More about crime in Pueblo: Pueblo man arrested on December 12 allegedly had more than 200 child sex abuse materials on the phone
Chieftain Editor Zach Hillstrom can be reached at zhillstrom@gannett.com or on X, at @ZachHillstrom. Support local news and subscribe to the Pueblo Chieftain at Subscribe.chieftain.com.
This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo man charged with assault for allegedly shooting man in the chest
