A Pueblo man received a 25-year prison sentence for the manslaughter of Christopher Salazar in September 2023
Pueblo: A man from Pueblo County was sentenced to 25 years in prison for the shooting death of Christopher Salazar. This happened back in September 2023.Steven Vigil, who is 30, was found guilty of manslaughter and attempted murder. The jury also convicted him of vehicular eluding. He was sentenced on January 9 by Judge Thomas Flesher.
The incident started outside a liquor store when Vigil got aggressive after Salazar tried to greet him. He pulled out an AR-15 rifle, and things escalated quickly. Salazar, in self-defense, drew his own gun.
There was video evidence showing the confrontation, with shots fired and screams heard. Vigil’s defense claimed Salazar shot first, but the jury didn’t buy it.
After the shooting, Vigil fled in his Camaro but was caught by police after a chase. They found an AR-style rifle in his car and noticed he had been shot in the abdomen.
Once he gets out of prison, Vigil will have to complete three years of probation and pay over $13,000 in restitution.
