Pubdate: Thu, 26 May 2016
Source: Durango Herald, The (CO)
Copyright: 2016 The Durango Herald
Contact: http://durangoherald.com/write_the_editor/
Website: http://durangoherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/866
Author: Shane Benjamin, Herald staff writer
Note: MAP archives articles exactly as published, except that our 
editors may redact the names and addresses of accused persons who 
have not been convicted of a crime, if those named are not otherwise 
public figures or officials.

'BLACK MARKET MARIJUANA,' CASH FOUND IN SLAIN STUDENT'S ROOM

Police Also Recover Suspected Cocaine From Suspects' Vehicles

Police recovered 9.1 pounds of processed marijuana and a little more
than $20,000 cash from the room of [name1 redacted], the Fort Lewis
College student who was shot and killed early Tuesday during a home
invasion.

The marijuana was in plastic bags and glass jars, and all the
packaging was marked with product information, according to a news
release issued Thursday by the Durango Police Department.

"It is obvious from the packaging and through interviews that this is
black market marijuana, and it was being illegally distributed," the
release says.

Police are confident the marijuana belonged to [name1 redacted], said
Lt. Ray Shupe, spokesman with the Durango Police Department. "All of
it was located in his room, and interviews we've done with other folks
all indicate it was his marijuana."

Police also found live plants in the house and a cultivation site in
the basement, where nothing was growing. It is possible [name1
redacted] harvested what had been growing in the basement, Shupe said.

Detectives also seized 5.5 grams of a white powdery substance from two
vehicles associated with the suspects, which has presumptively tested
positive for cocaine. The substance will be sent to the Colorado
Bureau of Investigation's laboratory for positive identification and
analysis.

Police said the cocaine was found in three Baggies in two different
vehicles. It appears it was for personal use as opposed to
distribution, Shupe said.

"The fact that it was split up the way it was, I'm guessing it was for
personal use between the four of them," Shupe said.

[name1 redacted] was shot about 3:45 a.m. Tuesday at [address
redacted] in the SkyRidge subdivision in Durango. Three armed men
wearing bandanas over their faces entered the house through a back
patio door and used zip ties to restrain some residents.

During the robbery, one of the suspects fired a single gunshot,
hitting [name1 redacted] in the abdomen. He died later that morning at
Mercy Regional Medical Center.

Four men were arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder: [name2
redacted], 19, of Phoenix; [name3 redacted], 22, of Phoenix; [name4
redacted], 20, of Phoenix; and [name5 redacted], 21, of Scottsdale,
Arizona.

In an interview with police, [name2 redacted] said he knew [name1
redacted] had marijuana and devised a plan to have his three friends
from the Phoenix area come to Durango to participate in the robbery. 
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D