Federal authorities are investigating a shooting that occurred this week in Towaoc.
Jeff Dorschner, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Denver, has confirmed that his office is “aware and involved” in an ongoing investigation of the incident, which occurred on Tuesday, Feb. 17. He wouldn’t confirm or deny reports of a possible homicide.
Late Thursday, Montezuma County Coroner George Deavers confirmed the identity of the victim as Jacob R. Lopez, 23, of Towaoc. Lopez was pronounced dead at Southwest Memorial Hospital at 3:11 p.m. on Tuesday, said Deavers.
Pending toxicology reports, the official cause of death remains undetermined, but Deavers said the incident didn’t appear to be the result of a suicide. The shooting reportedly occurred at a residence on San Juan Turn in Towaoc, said Deavers.
Tribal authorities referred all media questions to Nedra Darling, a spokeswoman with the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs in Washington, D.C. Reached via email on Thursday, Darling declined to comment, citing the incident remained under investigation.
Located 19 miles south of Cortez, Towaoc is the capital of the Ute Mountain Ute Indian Reservation.
tbaker@cortezjournal.com