14-year-old girl shot and killed while filming TikTok video in Colorado

MONTE VISTA, Colo. (TCD) -- Three people, including two juveniles, have been taken into custody in connection with the death of a 14-year-old girl who was shot and killed while filming TikTok videos.

According to the Monte Vista Police Department, on Aug. 7 at 3:30 p.m., officers responded to a shooting call on the 300 block of Monroe Street and found a juvenile female with gunshot wounds. EMS arrived at the scene and pronounced her dead.

On Aug. 11, Monte Vista Police announced detectives arrested two juvenile females for reckless manslaughter and possession of a handgun by juveniles. A 21-year-old male, Emiliano Vargas, was also taken into custody for secure firearm storage required and unlawfully providing or permitting a juvenile to possess a handgun. He reportedly own the gun that was used in the fatal shooting but was not present when it occurred.

According to the affidavit, police found the victim on the floor of a room "with blood and other fluid" coming out of her head. Officers then reportedly found a firearm in another bedroom, and the homeowner where the shooting occurred said one of the two juveniles likely put the gun in the other room after the shooting. Vargas reportedly lived at the home on Monroe Street with his grandmother and another juvenile.

The affidavit says one of the two responding officers "was advised that the juveniles were handling the gun and making videos on 'TikTok.'"

One of the juveniles reportedly told officers they took the clip out of the gun and "it just happened." The affidavit notes investigators did not find an exit wound in the body, so "the bullet remains in the skull of the victim."

Vargas reportedly leaves his gun "visible and unlocked on a top shelf" and allegedly "routinely" lets one of the juveniles access it because he "trusts" them.

KUSA-TV identified the victim as 14-year-old Aaliyah Salazar. Her obituary says she "had just become a teenager and [was] so excited to start her freshman year in high school."

Aaliyah was "the proud mommy of 3 dogs, a cat, a turtle, and some hamsters." She had a passion for making TikTok videos, and her family "knew she was going to be famous one day."

Some of Aaliyah’s family members told KUSA they believe the shooting "was on purpose."

The Colorado Attorney General’s Office is reportedly handling the case.

MORE:

• Death Investigation, 8/7/2022 - Monte Vista Police Department
• Arrests Made in Death Investigation, 8/11/2022 - Monte Vista Police Department
• Affidavit and Application for Arrest Warrant - Rio Grande County
• 2 teens charged in death of 14-year-old killed making a TikTok video - KUSA
• Aaliyah Salazar obituary - Valley Courier