On August 25, 2021, at approximately 4:57 PM, multiple callers called 911 to report a woman being drug out of a black SUV (sport utility vehicle) by a man with a gun at a drive-thru restaurant located in the 300 block of Main Street. There were multiple reports of shots being fired by the man as the woman was drug into a white sedan. The sedan left the area traveling North on Highway 85/87. The black SUV also left the area driven by another female. Deputies from patrol and SWAT responded and began checking the area.
At approximately 5:05 PM, multiple callers reported a female with a bloody face running from a white vehicle near South Academy and Interstate 25. Multiple patrol units from the El Paso County Sheriff's Office, Pikes Peak Community College and Fountain Police Department responded to the area. A drone from the Fountain Police Department was requested to search the fields in the area. The female was located hours later.
At approximately 6:23 PM, a caller from the 1400 block of Maxwell Street called 911 to report the suspect, Steven Vigil (DOB: 03/22/1988), was just at their house menacing them with a gun and threatening to come back to kill them. He then left in a white sedan.
At approximately 7:15 PM, with the help of our Regional Fugitives Unit and SWAT, the suspect vehicle was located in the 1300 block of Ranier Drive. The suspect came out of the house, assaulting another female and forcing her to the car. SWAT members moved in to conduct a vehicle block to prevent another apparent kidnapping. Vigil made it into the driver seat as the female fled on foot. Vigil drove away from the area and after a short pursuit, deputies were able to prevent him from continuing. Vigil then reached into the backseat and pulled a child into his lap.
Vigil obeyed all commands, and the child was safely removed with no injuries. Mr. Vigil was booked in the El Paso County Jail on the following charges:
Criminal Attempt First Degree Murder,
First Degree Kidnapping,
Eluding, and Child Abuse.
A mugshot of Vigil is attached to this media release. At this time there is no reason to believe there is any further threat to the community.
