Teen who killed mother of young child with AR-15 over minor fender bender handed life sentence in prison

December 14, 2024 Gloria Shaw

A Colorado gang member Remi Cordova, who was just 14 years old when he opened fire on a mother of a young child during a traffic dispute, has been sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 40 years.

On Thursday, the Denver District Attorney’s Office announced the sentencing of Cordova, now 17, following his conviction in November for first-degree murder and attempted murder in the 2021 killing of 32-year-old Pamela Cabriales.

The crime unfolded on February 20, 2021, at a red light near Colfax Avenue and Interstate 25. Prosecutors said Cabriales was stopped at the intersection when Cordova, riding in a car driven by then-18-year-old Neshan Johnson, believed Cabriales had tapped their vehicle from behind.

“What should have been an ordinary moment turned into a senseless and horrific act of violence,” District Attorney Beth McCann said.

According to court documents, Cordova asked Johnson, “Can I bust on them?” before stepping out of the car armed with an AR-15 rifle. Johnson replied, “Do what you gotta do, that’s on you.” Moments later, Cordova fired between 15 and 20 rounds into Cabriales’ car.

Cabriales was rushed to a nearby hospital with severe head injuries and died several days later. A second driver, whose car was directly behind Cabriales’ vehicle and in the line of fire, escaped without injury.

Cordova, described as a gang member with a history of juvenile offenses, was accused of committing the shooting to bolster his reputation within the gang. During closing arguments, prosecutor Jacob Friedberg said the attack was an attempt to “rise up through the ranks of the gang world.”

Cordova bragged about the AR-15 rifle to police, referring to it as his “toy.” Prosecutors also highlighted his lack of remorse, contrasting it with the devastating loss suffered by Cabriales’ family, particularly her young son.

“This sentence will ensure that Remi Cordova is held accountable and pays a significant price for his heinous crimes,” McCann said in a statement.

“Pamela Cabriales was a loving, joyful, and hard-working young woman who would be with us today were it not for Mr. Cordova’s entirely senseless actions. My thoughts continue to be with all those who knew and loved Pamela, especially her young son.”

Despite overwhelming evidence, Cordova maintained his innocence throughout the trial and during sentencing. Addressing the victim’s family in court, he said, “I want you all to know I really feel for y’all, I understand completely … the pain that you guys feel. But I cannot take responsibility for something that I did not do.”

The defense argued that Cordova’s traumatic upbringing played a role in his actions, though prosecutors dismissed this claim, emphasizing the calculated and deliberate nature of the attack.

The day after the shooting, a Denver police officer spotted the suspects’ vehicle, which had been linked to an earlier incident where shots were fired into a McDonald’s. A high-speed chase ensued, ending with the car crashing and both teens being arrested.

Johnson, the driver, was sentenced in June 2023 to 35 years in prison after pleading guilty to his role in the shooting.

Cabriales’ brother, Alex, described his sister’s injuries in harrowing detail, revealing that the bullets had caused catastrophic damage.

“The whole top of her head was blown off. Her brain was exposed,” he told local media. “The community needs to know what these people did. My sister was beautiful.”

A GoFundMe page created to support Cabriales’ young son described her as “an amazing human being” who “always went out of her way to help those in need.” It added, “She was an amazing mother, daughter, sister, auntie and friend.”

Cabriales’ family and prosecutors hope her story raises awareness about the devastating impact of gun violence.

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Cordova, now facing life in prison, will have the chance for parole after serving 40 years, though Cabriales’ family says no sentence could ever erase their loss.