Pablo Del Rio killed by shot in back during O'Reilly Auto Parts store robbery (46)

The Denver coroner's office has identified the clerk who died amid a robbery attempt at an O'Reilly Auto Parts store late Monday as Pablo Del Rio Jr. And the cause of death is no doubt further fueling the search for his killer. Why? Del Rio was shot in the back...

By Michael Roberts

April 18, 2012

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The Denver coroner's office has identified the clerk who died amid a robbery attempt at an O'Reilly Auto Parts store late Monday as Pablo Del Rio Jr. And the cause of death is no doubt further fueling the search for his killer.

Why? Del Rio was shot in the back.

According to the Denver Police Department, officers responded to a robbery report at the store, 5125 Chambers Road, around 9:20 p.m. on Monday. As they were en route, the call was updated with new information: shots fired.

By the time DPD personnel arrived, a man later identified as Del Rio was lying on the ground after having been felled by a gunshot. He was pronounced dead at an area hospital a short time later.

At this point, police believe two individuals reportedly wearing masks attempted to rob the store. Del Rio, who worked there as a clerk, tried to flee, but one of the suspects made sure he didn't get far.

Del Rio's loss is being felt among friends, acquaintances and family members like his father, whose conversation with 9News following the murder paints a heartbreaking portrait of grief. It's on view below, along with an interactive graphic showing the area near the scene; if you have problems seeing the image, click "View Larger Map." And if you have any information about the case, contact the Denver Police Department 720-913-2000 or 720-913-STOP (7867).

View Larger Map

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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