Pueblo police have identified the most-wanted man by officers early Wednesday.
Skyler Manzanares was wanted on two counts of felony contempt of court, one on a robbery case and the other on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance. His bail was set at $100,000.
The shooting happened about 1 a.m. in Pueblo’s Bessemer neighborhood when officers tried to arrest Manzanares. Officials say as they confronted the wanted man in a backyard, he produced a gun and was then shot by officers.
Two officers involved in the encounter have been placed on paid leave.
Manzanares, 27, was first listed in critical condition, but police say his condition has improved and that he is being treated at a Denver-area hospital.
The shooting remains under investigation.
Manzanares was f issued by the Pueblo Police Department.
In March, Pueblo police r by releasing weekly posters targeting gang-affiliated criminals as part of efforts to bolster the city’s battle against gang violence. The initiative includes involvement from the FBI’s Safe Streets Task Force.
Violence in Pueblo , pushing the city’s per-capita homicide rate to the highest in Colorado, a Denver Post analysis found. Police blame an ongoing gang war and a dearth of available officers to address the problem.
