ALAMOSA — After allegedly shooting three men, one of whom died, and leading multiple law enforcement agencies on a 14-hour manhunt, Alamosa resident Henry Corral is being held in the Alamosa County Detention Center on a $5 million bond to be paid in cash only.
Bond was set by Alamosa County Judge Jason Kelly, presiding, when Corral, 44, appeared in court Wednesday afternoon related to his arrest for one count of murder in the first degree and two counts of criminal attempted murder in the first degree plus aggravated robbery, tampering with evidence and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
District Attorney Anne Kelly addressed the court, stating that Corral had “executed one man and tried to execute two others”, was going to be charged as a “habitual criminal” and poses “an extreme danger to the community.”
She then provided the court with a summary of Corral’s criminal history. Corral has been charged with murder twice before - once in 2000 and a second time in 2016. In both cases, he pleaded guilty to lesser charges of manslaughter and felony menacing, respectively. After he was released from the Department of Corrections, “He tried to kill his girlfriend by strangling her,” Kelly said.
Kelly requested the court set bond at $10 million, to be paid in cash, as a means of assuring that Corral would remain in jail and the community “would be protected.”
Defense counsel James Waldo viewed the amount as excessive, saying, “That might as well be an imaginary number.” He cited two other clients he was representing who were involved in a “shoot-out” and their bond was $3 million with a $300,000 cash surety.
Judge Kelly said he had reviewed Corral’s criminal history and “the charges are as serious as they can be.” He went on to say, “We want to assure the public is protected,” and set bail at $5 million, cash.
According to an arrest affidavit received from the court, officers with the Alamosa Police Department were dispatched to the Sunset Inn, 1310 W. 8th Ave., on a report of shots fired shortly after 2 a.m. on the morning of Sunday, June 23. Dispatch said the caller reported two men had been shot. Upon arriving, APD officers found two men in a room, one of whom had been shot in the head while sitting in a chair. The victim, later identified as Aurelio Piña, 61, died from his wounds. The second victim, 37-year-old Gabriel Piña, had been shot twice. He was identified as Aurelio’s son.
The arrest affidavit states that an APD officer, attending to Gabriel Piña, asked him who shot him. Piña named Corral as the shooter.
The affidavit further states that “it’s important to note that Corral’s long-time girlfriend…was later located in the hotel, as well.”
After allegedly shooting Gabriel and his father, Corral left the room and encountered Manuel Flores, 43, in the hallway. Corral then allegedly shot Flores five times, including in various parts of his body and face.
APD learned that Corral reportedly ran out of the building and, driving a Chevrolet Avalanche, fled west on 8th Street into a more rural part of the area, driving so fast that, according to the document, he “flew over two irrigation ditches” and landed, getting stuck in a field near County Road 106 and CR12 South.
When a resident nearby attempted to help, Corral tried to hijack the resident’s truck and, when he was unsuccessful, set the Avalanche on fire and fled on foot.
Authorities believe Corral did that to destroy evidence, specifically a cell phone and weapon, Kelly said.
When Alamosa Fire Department and Colorado State Patrol were dispatched to a crash in the area, they determined the vehicle belonged to Corral, leading law enforcement to believe he was still in the area. That initiated an intensive search that involved more than 40 officers as well as CBI and the U.S. Marshals.
After a report from a citizen who spotted someone matching Corral’s description, he was taken into custody at about 6:30 p.m. Sunday night.
Although no motive for the shooting is stated in the affidavit, it is noted that Flores had recently been released from prison, was visiting from Denver and was a childhood friend of Corral’s girlfriend. The two had been spending time together.
The affidavit also states that Corral’s girlfriend said they had been discussing separation or divorce.
Unrelated to the arrest affidavit, the Alamosa County Sheriff’s Office has confirmed that both Corral and his girlfriend had been arrested for domestic violence on June 11.
Corral’s next court appearance is scheduled for July 2 at 1:30 p.m.