DENVER – The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Colorado announces that Kitira Hays, age 21, of Arvada, was sentenced to 14.75 years in federal prison for her role in armed robberies of Lakewood and Westminster stores.
According to the plea agreement, on November 14, 2020, Hays drove two co-defendants to a Foot Locker in Lakewood and to a DSW located in Westminster so her co-defendants could rob the stores. At both locations, one co-defendant brandished a firearm as the other robbed the stores of clothing and shoes. Hays served as a getaway driver.
Later that same day, an Adams County Sheriff’s Deputy attempted to stop the car, but the co-defendant and Hays drove away at a high rate of speed. The deputy maintained pursuit and was joined by other deputies. When the deputies deployed stop sticks to stop the car, Hays, then riding in the passenger seat, used a silver revolver to shoot out the window of the vehicle at pursuing deputies, as the co-defendant drove around the stop sticks. Hays continued shooting at law enforcement as the co-defendant drove and ultimately crashed the vehicle in the trailer park where Hays lived. Hays continued to shoot at law enforcement before fleeing on foot
“Violent gun crime is a serious problem that threatens all of us,” said United States Attorney Cole Finegan. “Choosing to use a gun to commit a crime – and especially shooting at law enforcement – will send you to federal prison for a long time.”
“These armed and violent criminals jeopardized the safety of our communities and law enforcement partners,” said ATF Denver Field Division Special Agent in Charge David S. Booth. “These are exactly the sort of crimes we seek to identify, disrupt and upon which we focus all of our investigational efforts.”
United States District Court Senior Judge R. Brooke Jackson sentenced the Defendant on February 28, 2022. Judge Jackson denied the Defendant’s request to lessen the sentence, noting that anyone who attempts to shoot, injure, or kill a law enforcement officer would not receive a lesser sentence.
The ATF, together with the Adams County Sheriff’s Department, conducted the investigation. Assistant United States Attorneys Celeste Rangel and Melissa Hindman handled the prosecution of the case.
Case Number 21-cr-0024
