Coroner Identifies Victim in Battlecreek Drive Homicide

The Larimer County Coroner's Office has ruled the Dec. 21 shooting death on Battlecreek Drive a homicide and identified the victim as 35-year-old Fort Collins resident Maximillian Edouard Loustaunau, confirming the finding that led to a first-degree murder arrest announced the day of the incident.

The identification and ruling formalize the case for the South Fort Collins neighborhood where the shooting occurred and clarify where the investigation and court proceedings now stand.

According to a Jan. 13 coroner's statement, Dr. J. White, D.O., performed a full forensic autopsy Dec. 22 at the Larimer County Forensic Sciences Center, determining the manner of death as homicide and the cause as gunshot wounds of the torso.

Officers responded Dec. 21 at 7:57 p.m. to the 2000 block of Battlecreek Drive and found the victim, who was pronounced dead at Poudre Valley Hospital. Police identified 20-year-old Brody Jason-Michael Hill at the scene and took him into custody.

Hill was booked at the Larimer County Jail on first-degree murder, three counts of unlawful conduct involving unserialized firearms, and a misdemeanor charge related to large-capacity magazines.

Assistant Chief Frank Barrett said the incident "appears to involve these two individuals." Police have not released information on motive or the relationship between victim and suspect.

Fort Collins Police Services continues investigating and seeks tips at 970-416-2825, [email protected], or through Larimer County Crime Stoppers at 970-221-6868.