GRAND JUNCTION, CO - On February 8, 2025, at approximately 1:50 a.m., Deputies with the Mesa County Sheriff’s Office heard multiple gunshots in the 2900 block of North Avenue. At the same time, a citizen called Dispatch to report hearing multiple gunshots in the same area.

Responding Deputies witnessed a distinctive truck leaving the area and located multiple shell casings near the vehicle’s initial location. Deputies tracked the truck to the area of 29 ½ Road and Patterson Road, where they contacted the two occupants. A search of the truck yielded two empty magazines and one extended magazine, though no firearms. Additional Deputies searched the route taken by the truck and located a handgun loaded with ammunition matching the caliber and brand found in the truck.

As a result, Yael Ortega-Rangel (24) of Gypsum, Colorado, was arrested and booked into the Mesa County Detention Facility on the following charges:

• Prohibited Use of a Weapon, Misdemeanor 1
• Reckless Endangerment, Misdemeanor 1
• Tampering with Physical Evidence - Destroy, Misdemeanor 1

This is believed to be an isolated incident. We would like to thank our Deputies for their proactive and quick response.