Man pleads guilty to killing man at birthday party in '24

Published on February 12, 2026

GREELEY, Colo. (Weld County D.A.) – A man accused of shooting and killing another man at a Greeley home during the summer of 2024 will spend more than two decades behind bars.

Last week, Ricardo Velado-Contreras plead guilty to second-degree murder for killing Julian Lozano-Pinon after a verbal argument at a birthday party. Velado-Contreras was sentenced to 28 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections.

The shooting happened on July 4, 2024, at approximately 11:35 p.m., at a residence located at 2400 11th Avenue in Greeley.

Greeley police officers responded to the scene following a report of a shooting.

Officers located Lozano-Pinon suffering from a single gunshot wound to the chest. Mr. Lozano-Pinon was transported to Northern Colorado Medical Center, where he was later pronounced deceased.

According to the investigation, the shooting occurred during a gathering at the residence, where a birthday party was being held for the defendant.

Alcohol and cocaine were being consumed during the party, and the defendant was reportedly displaying a firearm—a 9mm handgun with an extended magazine—to others in attendance.

During the evening, the defendant confronted Lozano-Pinon regarding allegations of inappropriate contact involving the defendant’s younger brother.

Lozano-Pinon denied the allegations. A verbal argument continued briefly before the defendant shot Lozano-Pinon once in the chest.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Steve Wrenn and Deputy District Attorney Katherine Fitzgerald prosecuted this case.