Victim identified from July 18 homicide investigation at Memorial Park

On July 18, 2026, at approximately 2:23 a.m., officers from the Colorado Springs Police Department (CSPD), Gold Hill Division were dispatched to a reported shooting in a parking lot at Memorial Park in the 00 block of South Hancock Avenue. Officers were in the area on an unrelated call for service when they heard gunshots coming from the area of Memorial Park.

When officers arrived, they located a deceased adult male in a vehicle who had an apparent gunshot wound. Officers also observed a possible suspect vehicle leaving the area and broadcast the vehicle description over police radio. Additional CSPD officers located the suspect vehicle near North Union Boulevard and East Yampa Street. After a traffic stop was initiated the vehicle's occupants were detained and later interviewed by detectives from the Homicide Unit.

As the investigation progressed, detectives developed information identifying 20-year-old Malaki Branch of Colorado Springs as the suspect. Mr. Branch was arrested for Murder in the First Degree and later booked into the El Paso County Criminal Justice Center.

On July 20, 2026, the El Paso County Coroner's Office conducted an autopsy and identified the deceased victim as 19-year-old Haywood Trisby. While the Coroner's Office will determine the cause and manner of death, this is being investigated as a homicide. A photo of Mr. Trisby has been provided by the family as shown below.

This was the 10th homicide in Colorado Springs this year. Last year at this time, there were 20 homicides.

This remains an active and ongoing investigation, and anyone with information is asked to call CSPD at 719-444-7000. If you wish to remain anonymous, you may call the Crime Stoppers Tip Line at 719-634-STOP (7867) or 1-800-222-8477.