I-70 Colorado murder

A suspect wanted in connection with a homicide during a home invasion in Florida was captured after getting stuck in traffic on I-70 in the Colorado mountains near Vail.

Aldo Armijos-Castillo, 32, had a felony murder warrant in connection with a December 26th home invasion in Bradenton, Florida that left his accomplice dead. The accomplice was shot and killed by the homeowner.

Armijos-Castillo was traveling by bus through Colorado on his way to California when the bus got caught in traffic due to a large crash on westbound lanes I-70 near Vail. Law enforcement became aware of his location and when Armijos-Castillo exited the bus he was safely apprehended by members of Vail Police Department and the Vail SWAT Team and taken to Eagle County jail where he waits for extradition to Florida. 

While we all despise delays on I-70, at least this one time standstill traffic provided an opportunity for law enforcement to take a dangerous suspect off the streets. Read the full press release on the arrest from the U.S. Marshals Service below.

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE PRESS RELEASE:

The U.S. Marshals Service’s Colorado Violent Offender Task Force (COVOTF), along with the Vail Police Department, located and arrested a Florida homicide suspect Wednesday evening in Vail.

Aldo Armijos-Castillo, 32, is wanted by the Manatee County (FL) Sheriff’s Office on a felony arrest warrant for murder by person engaged in burglary in connection to a Dec. 26, 2024 home invasion in Bradenton, Florida that left one man dead. A warrant for Armijos-Castillo’s arrest in that case was issued on Jan. 6. 

Investigators with the U.S. Marshals Service’s Florida-Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force in Tampa recently developed information indicating Armijos-Castillo had fled Florida and was traveling to California. On Jan. 22, that information was relayed to the U.S. Marshals Service’s Colorado Violent Offender Task Force who picked up the investigation. COVOTF investigators learned Armijos-Castillo was travelling by bus westbound on I-70, but was delayed due to a large traffic accident near Vail.

COVOTF Task Force Officers from the Colorado Bureau of Investigation in Grand Junction then contacted the Vail Police Department (VPD) for assistance. VPD officers along with members of their SWAT team were able to locate and positively identify Armijos-Castillo and safely take him into custody.

Armijos-Castillo was transported to the Eagle County Jail where he was booked on the outstanding homicide warrant from Florida. He is currently awaiting extradition.

The success of this arrest represents a culmination of extensive cooperative investigative efforts between the U.S. Marshals Florida-Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force, U.S. Marshals Colorado Violent Offender Task Force, Colorado Bureau of Investigation, Vail Police Department, Colorado State Patrol, and Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. 

The Colorado Violent Offender Task Force is a multi-jurisdictional fugitive task force that targets the most violent offenders to include those wanted for murder, assault, sex offenses, and other serious offenses throughout the state and country.  Nationally, the U.S. Marshals Service fugitive programs are carried out with local law enforcement in 94 district offices, 58 local fugitive task forces, eight regional task forces, as well as a growing network of offices in foreign countries.     

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