Alleged white supremacists ordered to stand trial in fatal shooting

A botched robbery/carjacking by two alleged white supremacists resulted in the fatal shooting of a Colorado Springs woman who was riding in the vehicle they wanted to steal, a detective testified today.

The testimony came during a preliminary hearing for Kyle Gray and Kandin Wilson, both of Colorado Springs. A judge ordered them to stand trial on first-degree murder charges in the Sept. 27 shooting in a parking lot of the Shannon Glen Apartments at 260 N. Murray Blvd.

Susana Pelavo Perez, 35, was in the front passenger seat of a white Chevrolet SUV when she was hit just below the shoulder by a bullet that smashed the left rear window of the vehicle. The driver took her to Memorial Hospital, where she was declared dead.

Gray and Wilson were charged soon after a Dec. 4 interview in which he allegedly described details of the shooting to Colorado Springs Police homicide unit Detective Brad Pratt.

Pratt testified that Gray said he and Wilson had gone to two bars earlier that night. Gray said he was driving a red Ford Escape that belonged to his girlfriend.

Gray claimed Wilson directed him to pull into the apartment complex parking lot and approach a white SUV so Wilson could steal it. However, the SUV pulled away, leading Gray to turn the Ford around and pull up alongside it.

Gray said Wilson then asked the driver of the SUV for directions. While the driver was conferring with the woman in the passenger seat, Gray said Wilson pulled out a .40-caliber semi-automatic handgun and pointed it at the SUV driver. When the SUV began to pull away, Gray said Wilson fired one shot.

Pratt testified that Gray identified himself as a member of the American Nazi Party and said that Wilson was a “prospect” who had agreed to a one-year probationary period. The detective said the two men also attended a gathering of other party members in Colorado Springs earlier that evening.

Police wired another inmate at the El Paso County Jail to tape conversations with Gray. Police said Gray talked about going out that night to commit racially motivated shootings, including firing at a black bicyclist. But investigators were unable to confirm that shooting and no charges were filed.

Fourth Judicial District Judge David L. Shakes ruled there was enough probable cause to try the two men in the murder.

An attorney for Wilson entered a not guilty plea. Shakes set a March 15 arraignment for Gray.

For more court coverage, go the Sidebar blog at Gazette.com.