A man has been arrested for breaking into a home, stealing a gun, and climbing on a roof in North Fort Collins.

On April 9, 2025 around 8:15 a.m., the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office received multiple 911 calls about an armed man in the 1700 block of North Whitcomb Street (Fort Collins/unincorporated Larimer County). The callers reported that the man had a long gun and was on the roof of a house.

Arriving deputies located the suspect, later identified as Yonic Mendoza-Sanchez (DOB 05/15/04) of Fort Collins. As they arrived, the suspect climbed down from the roof and disappeared from view. Several minutes later, law enforcement saw him walking in the nearby area and safely took him into custody.

The suspect had no connection to the home, and deputies entered to ensure the safety of anyone inside. They located one adult female resident, who was unharmed. Through the investigation, deputies learned that Mendoza-Sanchez had broken into the house, stole a shotgun, and climbed to the roof with it. Preliminary reports show that he may have fired one round. Fortunately, no injuries have been reported. The shotgun was recovered inside of the home. Mendoza-Sanchez was booked into the Larimer County Jail on the following charges:

• Second Degree Burglary - for Firearms or Ammunition (F3)
• Illegal Discharge of a Firearm (F5)
• Possession of a Weapon by a Previous Offender (F5)
• Criminal Mischief - $1,000 to < $2,000 Private Property (M1)

“This was a dangerous situation with a lot of challenging factors for first responders,” said Undersheriff Joe Shellhammer. “Fortunately, the rapid response and well-coordinated teamwork led to a safe outcome.”

A booking photo is attached. Anyone with information about this incident or suspect, who has not already spoken with law enforcement, is encouraged to call LCSO Investigator Kurt Solomon at 970-498-5580. People who want to remain anonymous can also contact Crime Stoppers of Larimer County at 970-221-6868 or www.stopcriminals.org.

An emergency alert was sent to surrounding residents, and several blocks of West Willox Lane were closed for about 45 minutes. People can sign up for emergency alerts at www.nocoalert.org. The Larimer County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank Fort Collins Police Services, Poudre Fire Authority, and UCHealth EMS for their assistance during this call. The charges are merely an accusation, and the defendant is presumed innocent until, and unless, proven guilty.