Westminster, Colorado — A shooting during an attempted carjacking claimed the life of 34-year-old Maria Ines DeLuna Ojeda on the evening of October 27. Ojeda, a janitor at a local Division of Motor Vehicles office, was found wounded in her vehicle after police responded to reports of gunfire near the 8400 block of Decatur Street.
Emergency services rushed Ojeda to a nearby hospital, but she succumbed to her injuries shortly after arrival. Investigators indicated that the incident was partly captured on surveillance cameras near the DMV, which displayed Ojeda entering her car just moments before a second vehicle drove up beside her.
According to an arrest affidavit, a man exited the passenger side of the second car, brandishing a firearm. As Ojeda attempted to back away, the suspect fired shots into her vehicle, resulting in multiple bullet holes found in the windows.
Authorities later discovered the abandoned vehicle connected to the shooting nearby, with its doors ajar. The car was traced to an address in Thornton. Michael Fernandez Jr., 24, who lived at this address and was seen driving the vehicle earlier, is one of the suspects. A second suspect, 19-year-old Daniel Romero, was identified after being located with Fernandez earlier in the day.
Romero has a troubled past; he was released from the Colorado Department of Corrections Division of Youth Services just weeks before the shooting, where he had served three years for an attempted murder conviction. Investigators confirmed Romero’s identity through a youth services worker who recognized him from recent interactions.
Both suspects are scheduled for hearings in Adams County District Court, where charges will be formally filed. The community has been shaken by this tragic incident, as Ojeda is remembered not only for her work but also for her warmth and kindness. Charcutnuvo, a Denver-based sausage company where Ojeda previously worked, paid tribute to her on social media, describing the impact of her sudden passing on their team.
In her memory, a GoFundMe page has been established to support her family, who are left grieving for Ojeda, a devoted wife and mother to a 13-year-old daughter. The community continues to come together, reflecting on the life lost and the pervasive issue of violence that has affected their lives.