Jeremy Rocha sentenced to life in prison after murder conviction in 2022 deadly shooting on I-70 in Colorado
A judge sentenced Jeremy Jacob Rocha to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the deadly shooting on Interstate 70 that stemmed from a Colorado street racing incident. The shooting happened June 18, 2022, in Aurora along I-70 between Tower Road and Colfax Avenue.
The jury returned the guilty verdict last week where they found Rocha guilty of second-degree murder, first-degree murder- extreme indifference and four counts of attempted murder.
John Jaros died in the presence of his wife and three children after shots were fired into their truck from potential street racers. Aurora police investigators said that traffic was stopped on I-70 between Tower Road and 470 for a street racing event. That's when Jaros, 37, went around the stopped traffic and police said Rocha fired multiple shots, killing him.
Jaros' family and friends were in Adams County Court for the sentencing hearing on Thursday.
"He was a son, brother, nephew, loving husband, fiercely loyal friend. If you made it past his rough exterior, you in fact became family to him," said his widow Katherine Jaros said.
Jaros lived in Estes Park and was the Assistant Chief of the Glen Haven Area Volunteer Fire Department.
Rocha's family said they plan to appeal the verdict.