U.S. Marshals Arrest Lakewood Murder Suspect in Colorado Springs

Philix Baca, 20, was arrested in Colorado Springs by the U.S. Marshals Service after being wanted for first-degree murder in the April 2024 shooting death of 14-year-old Francisco “Cisco” Laqui in Lakewood. Baca had been on the run for over a year following the incident, which occurred during an argument at a party, and at least three other suspects were apprehended shortly after the shooting and charged. Law enforcement agencies, including the Colorado Violent Offender Task Force, Lakewood and Fountain police departments, the Colorado Springs Police Department Tactical Enforcement Unit, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement, collaborated to track Baca to a home on Whimsical Drive, where he was safely taken into custody. The arrest marked the culmination of extensive cooperative investigative efforts among multiple agencies. Baca is currently held without bond at the El Paso County Criminal Justice Center and is scheduled for a court hearing. The case highlights ongoing concerns about gun violence impacting youth and the community.