Good morning court watchers.

This morning a preliminary hearing is underway for two suspects accused in the shooting death of a former Fort Carson soldier.

Carlos Michael Olguin, 18, and his cousin Damian Uriah Gradeless, 17, have been charged in the April 23 homicide of Joshua Fields in the 1800 block of B Street.

Fields, 25, died of a gun shot wound to the left chest, according to previous testimony. He had been discharged from the Army in March. A police affidavit stated the two teens met Fields to buy marijuana when a fight started and gunfire erupted.

This morning, an eyewitness testified about being in a car with the victim and the two suspects moments before the shooting occurred.

Nicole Sanchez said she was sitting in the front passenger set next to Fields, who was driving. She referred to him as “J” and described him as someone who sometimes sold her methamphetamine.

Sanchez said Olguin was sitting directly behind Fields and Gradeless was sitting behind her, wearing a hoodie with the hood up.

 She said something didn’t feel right about the situation. Then suddenly Olguin said “Stop the (expletive deleted) car and reached around Field’s neck with his left hand.

Sanchez said she fled the car at that point. A few seconds later, she heard two shots.

Testimony is continuing. An El Paso County sheriff’s investigator who questioned Sanchez is on the witness stand.

This is the third installment of a hearing that began last month.

Stay tuned to the Sidebar for more details.

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