Truck driver pleads guilty to homicide in the death of locksmith during payment dispute

A Colorado truck driver has pleaded guilty to homicide in the death of a locksmith who was run over in a parking lot in December 2022.

Truck driver Erick Mejia, 32, pleaded guilty to two charges in the death of locksmith Guillermo Duran Mejia, 55. As part of a plea deal, Mejia pleaded guilty to one count of leaving the scene of an accident involving death and one count of vehicular homicide, according to 9News.

Duran Mejia died on December 28, 2022, in Arapahoe County, Colorado.

The Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office was called to 1 Digicomm Drive around 11:30 a.m. and found Duran Mejia lying in the parking lot beside a white van registered to a locksmith company.

Duran Mejia died at the scene.

Deputies reviewed surveillance footage showing a semi truck striking Duran Mejia and they were able to identify Mejia and the trucking company associated with the truck.

Police called Mejia and asked him to stay where he was so they could meet him, but he instead travelled south on I-25. Officers were able to track Mejia down and arrested him south of Colorado Springs.

Mejia told investigators after his arrest that he called Duran Mejia for a locksmith service. During this service, the men became involved in an argument over payment and Duran Mejia reportedly ripped up cash Mejia gave him and struck the semi with an “auto theft prevention device.”

Mejia got into his truck and started to drive off. He said that he veered towards the van to avoid hitting a tree.

Mejia told police that he knew he hit the white van but that he did know know that he hit Duran Mejia at first.

Mejia said that he called 911 twice, then left the scene to make a delivery.

Mejia faces sentencing on April 19, 2024.