Self-defense or Murder? Street Racer’s I-70 Shooting Testimony Raises Questions

For a little more than an hour and a half on Thursday, Jeremy Rocha told an Adams County jury that he was afraid for his life after a truck chased him.

Then he claimed that the driver of the pickup truck brandished a gun at him, so he shot in self-defense. Rocha testified Thursday that he was defending himself when he fired the shots that killed John Jaros in June 2022. Rocha arrived before the jury in a gray suit, black shirt, and gray tie. The judge forbade the proceedings from being recorded.

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Jaros, 37, was shot and died while driving his pickup truck on Interstate 70 in Aurora in June 2022, with his wife and three children in the vehicle. Rocha claimed he was street racing when a pickup truck struck another racer and started after him.

Rocha claimed the man driving the truck pointed a gun at him. Rocha claims he discharged his handgun nine times in two seconds.

Because of the truck’s tinted windows, the 22-year-old stated he couldn’t see Jaros’ family with him. Prosecutors questioned Rocha if the shooting was Jaros’ fault.

“Yes,” Rocha replied.

Prosecutors also asked Rocha if he continued shooting after the truck had passed. Rocha said everything happened so quickly that he was afraid for his life.

Many relatives of both families were in court. Rocha’s sister spoke with FOX31 just after leaving the courthouse today.

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“Jaros was responsible for everything that happened that day. So he’s hunting my brother down. A rifle was pointed directly at his face. The only reason he (Rocha) ever brought out his gun is that when a gun is pointed at you and you’re looking down the barrel, the only thing you’ll do is protect yourself when you have two seconds to think about it,” Rocha’s sister, Jenna Rocha, explained.

Jaros was a firefighter from Glen Haven, near Estes Park. The jury received its instructions on Thursday. Closing arguments are scheduled to begin Friday morning.