Street racer accused of murder testifies that I-70 shooting was self-defense

BRIGHTON, Colo. (KDVR) — For a little more than an hour and a half on Thursday, Jeremy Rocha told an Adams County jury he was scared for his life after a truck began chasing him.

Then, he said the driver of that pickup truck pointed a gun at him, so he shot in self-defense. Rocha took to the stand Thursday and told jurors he was trying to defend himself when he fired the shots that killed John Jaros in June 2022.

Rocha appeared before the jury wearing a gray suit, black shirt and gray tie. The judge prohibited the proceeding from being recorded.

Jaros, 37, was shot and killed as he drove his pickup truck on Interstate 70 in Aurora in June of 2022 while his wife and three children were in the vehicle. Rocha said he was street racing when a pickup truck rammed a fellow racer and began chasing him.

Rocha said the man driving the truck pointed a gun at him. That’s when Rocha says he fired his own firearm nine times in two seconds.

The 22-year-old said he did not see that Jaros’ family was with him because of the truck’s tinted windows. Prosecutors asked Rocha if the shooting was Jaros’ fault.

“Yes,” Rocha said.

The prosecutors also asked Rocha if he kept shooting after the truck had passed. Rocha said it all happened so fast and he was in fear for his life.

Many members of both families were in the courtroom. Rocha’s sister spoke with FOX31 shortly after leaving the courtroom today.

“Everything that occurred that day was brought upon because of Jaros. So, him chasing my brother down. Flashing a gun right in his face. The only reason he (Rocha) ever pulled out his gun is, when a gun is pointed at you and you are looking down the barrel the only thing you will do is defend yourself when you have two seconds to think about it,” Rocha’s sister, Jenna Rocha, said.

Jaros was a firefighter from the town of Glen Haven, which is near Estes Park. The jury was given its instructions on Thursday. Closing arguments are set to begin Friday morning.

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