Sunday night in Henrico turned into a crime scene after gunshots echoed through an apartment complex on Craighill Road. By the time officers arrived, 21-year-old Jesus Ugalde lay dying in the parking lot. He did not survive his injuries.
It was around 3 a.m. when calls came in about a shooting at the Hunters Ridge Apartments in the West End. Henrico police rushed to the 00 block of Craighill Road. They found Ugalde with obvious signs of trauma, but emergency efforts were not enough. Paramedics pronounced him dead right there on the pavement.
Ugalde was a local resident whose life ended far too soon. Friends and family are now left dealing with a sudden loss that makes no sense. One moment he was going about his night, and the next, a peaceful area turned into a homicide investigation.
Neighborhood residents woke up to flashing red and blue lights framing the parking lot. For many living at Hunters Ridge, the sudden gunfire hit close to home. Yellow police tape stretched across the grounds as detectives began gathering evidence before sunrise.
Patrol officers did not have to wait long for a solid lead. Investigators quickly pulled together details on a suspect vehicle spotted leaving the area right after the shots rang out. Officers fanned out across Henrico looking for the car.
Police located the vehicle later that morning and moved in. They arrested 22-year-old David Chavez Penaloza, who also lives in Henrico. Authorities took Penaloza into custody without any further trouble.
Court records show Penaloza faces charges of second-degree murder and use of a firearm in committing a felony. Detectives confirmed that Ugalde and Penaloza knew each other prior to the shooting. However, investigators have not yet shared what triggered the deadly confrontation.
As the criminal case against Penaloza moves forward, those who knew Jesus Ugalde are left holding onto his memory. A young life ended in a matter of minutes, leaving a community searching for answers that have not yet come.
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