Man who police say drove through the Pueblo Mall in 2023 found dead in his apartment

PUEBLO -- The Pueblo County Coroner has confirmed that Mario Arellano, the driver who crashed into the Pueblo Mall in November 2023, died last month. Arellano, 31, had called the police prior to the incident, claiming he was about to commit multiple murders. Upon their arrival, police found him inside a silver KIA Soul, where he then drove into the food court, alleging that he had planted bombs in the vehicle.

Following the crash, Arellano was arrested and faced multiple felony charges, but the legal proceedings were postponed due to concerns about his mental health. The incident prompted a heightened police presence at the mall as authorities worked to ensure public safety.

According to the coroner’s report, Arellano was found deceased in his apartment on February 1, 2025. The coroner indicated that toxicology results showed high levels of methamphetamine, cocaine, and ethanol in his system at the time of death.

In a separate matter, the Pueblo Police Department is sounding alarms about an uptick in card skimming incidents throughout the city. Card skimming, while not a new crime, is reportedly becoming more prevalent, prompting authorities to warn residents about potential risks to their financial information.

Community members are encouraged to take precautions to safeguard their credit card details against skimmers. Additionally, residents can engage with the local news station, KOAA News5, if they have story tips or concerns they would like covered.