COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — Police in Colorado say they have arrested a man in the death of a U.S. Army captain.
Colorado Springs Police on Friday announced their arrest of 27-year-old Gilberto Chavez Jr. on suspicion of first-degree murder. Police said he was already being held for an unrelated charge.
The body of Capt Daniel Lehman was found in downtown Colorado Springs on Sept. 15. Lehman was 28 years old and stationed at Fort Carson.
Lehman’s obituary said he was a West Point graduate with a double major in nuclear physics and philosophy.
A veteran of Afghanistan, Lehman was assigned to the 4th Infantry Division’s 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, The Gazette reported.
It's not clear if Chavez has an attorney. He is being held without bond.
KRDO-TV reports that an anonymous tip led police to begin investigating Chavez.
According to court records, Chavez was walking down a street in Colorado Springs while high on methamphetamine and on very little sleep when he thought someone was following behind him, the TV station reported.
Authorities believe that's when Chavez pulled out a .22-caliber gun and shot Lehman in the torso.
Seven minutes after Lehman was shot dead, Chavez sent a text message to his fiancee, Tiffany Martin, saying, “Babe I just got this guy.” Chavez also made multiple messages saying he “got a body” and told Martin that “there was no way people would find out that it was him, and there was no evidence,” KRDO-TV reported.
