DENVER—A second suspect arrested in the New Year’s Day shooting that left an 11-year-old girl and a woman dead from a single shot fired into a home was released on Friday, police said.
Police said Friday they arrested Michael Manzanares, 23, on investigation of first-degree murder but, about two hours later, said they released him “pending further investigation.”
Police gave no details about his alleged involvement and did not say when he was arrested.
A jail spokeswoman would not say whether Manzanares had an attorney.
Pedro Cortez, 25, was arrested hours after the shooting on two counts of first-degree murder. He was being held without bail.
Police have said they believe Cortez fired a shot at about 12:20 a.m. Tuesday that tore through the front wall of a west Denver home and killed Angelica Martinez of Denver and Rebecca Yanez, 47, of Fort Collins at a family gathering inside.
Police said the bullet passed through the seated woman’s head and struck the girl in the side.
Investigators initially said the shot may have been fired from a high-powered rifle by someone celebrating New Year’s. Cortez told police he had fired a .44-caliber handgun and was aiming at a streetlight.
Police have refused to say whether they believe the fatal shot was fired by the handgun, or whether they still believe the shot was fired in celebration.
Cortez’s attorney, Harvey Steinberg, told a judge the only evidence against his client was his statement.
