13-year-old sentenced as juvenile in shooting death of 60-year-old on RTD bus

DENVER (KDVR) — A 13-year-old who pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder was sentenced to five years and six months in the Division of Youth Services.

The teen, who was tried as a juvenile, shot and killed 60-year-old Richard Sanchez on an RTD bus on Jan. 27 near the intersection of South Federal Boulevard and West Mississippi Avenue. Police said there was a verbal altercation between Sanchez and the teen about his leg blocking the bus aisle.

However, the interaction ended with the teen pulling out a gun and fatally shooting the 60-year-old.

In June, the court told Sanchez’s family that the teen would likely get five and a half years. The family told FOX31’s Gabby Easterwood that the judge wanted to give the teen a chance for rehabilitation.

Sanchez’s daughter, Miranda Sanchez, said her family “lost big time” by the teen being tried as a juvenile.

“They didn’t lose anything, a few years of their life? My dad lost his entire life,” Miranda said.

Police said another person was hurt in the bus shooting and treated at the scene.

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