Castle Rock Man Convicted of Murder, Attempted Murder in 2022 Shooting

Miguel Angel Mercado, 23, was found guilty by a Douglas County jury of two counts of second-degree murder and two counts of attempted second-degree murder for fatally shooting 23-year-old Daniel Vilchis Mercado and injuring another man during a fistfight outside the Pines at Castle Rock Apartments in 2022. The confrontation arose after Vilchis Mercado accused Mercado's roommate of being involved with his girlfriend, leading to a physical fight in the apartment complex parking lot. During the altercation, Mercado pulled out a gun and opened fire, resulting in the fatal shooting and serious injury. Mercado claimed self-defense, but the jury rejected this defense, with Senior Deputy District Attorney Nate Marsh emphasizing that using a gun in someone else's fistfight is unacceptable and that the verdict sends a strong message about accountability. Mercado fled the scene but was later apprehended by police. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 18.