‘Just shock, there’s no words’: Friend of Peyton-area shooting victim speaks

EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KKTV) - Erik Shaw tells 11 News he first met Robert Vandelac in 2017 when they started working together. Vandelac says was a mentor and a friend.

Robert was one of four people who died in a reported shooting northeast of Peyton Dec. 6.

“Just a great human being,” Shaw said of Robert.

He says when he first heard the news about a shooting at the scene, he was hoping his friends were okay they weren’t.

“It’s a very surreal feeling to be associated or a part of something like this,” Shaw said. “Just shock there’s no words really.”

Shaw still has questions about what happened that night.

“It’s just very unfortunate we’re having this conversation right now,” Shaw said.

Shaw says it is Vandelac’s laugh that will stick with him. He says the victims will be missed by many.

“You just think of little things he did together that’s the unfortunate thing about the situation like this but it happens. Is you revert back to all the little stuff I know you’re never gonna get that again that hurts,” Shaw said.

The shooting was reported on Dec. 6 just before midnight in the 2100 block of Akawi Way, the area is northeast of Peyton. Inside the home, deputies found four deceased adults. Three were identified as victims of a homicide; 54-year-old Desiree N. Vandelac, 57-year-old Robert V. Vandelac, and 30-year-old Debray A. Scott. A fourth person, 22-year-old Peyton S. Vandelac was also found dead in the home, but the exact manner and cause of death was not available last time this article was updated.