Springs police are investigating a homicide that took place Monday night near downtown Colorado Springs.

Authorities say around 6:45 p.m. they received reports of an assault in progress in the area of Bijou Street and Cascade Avenue. When officers and medical personnel arrived, they located the body of an adult male lying on the south side of Bijou Street near the intersection with Sierra Madre Street. Shortly thereafter, the man was determined to be deceased.

Based on witness statements, officers were able to locate a suspect a short distance from where the victim was found. The suspect, 48-year-old Matthew Rowland, was taken into custody approximately 30 minutes after the initial reported assault.

Matthew Rowland is being charged with first degree murder.

Investigators are now trying to figure out what led up to the death. The identity of the victim is still being determined. An autopsy by the El Paso County Coroner’s Office to determine the cause and manner of death is pending.

The Colorado Springs Police Department is asking anyone with information about this incident to contact Detective Happ at 444-7673, or they may remain anonymous and contact Crime Stoppers at 634-STOP (7867).