Man Convicted of First-Degree Murder in Death of Colorado Jeweler
Peter Damian Arguello, a jeweler in the Denver suburb of Wheat Ridge, was found dead inside his store in November 2023.

According to an update from the Colorado First Judicial District Attorney’s Office, which serves Jefferson and Gilpin counties, 42-year-old Charles Robinson Shay was found guilty on all 11 charges brought against him in connection with the death of Peter Damian Arguello.
Arguello, 64, was the owner of Peter Damian Fine Jewelry & Antiques in Wheat Ridge, Colorado.
Police found Arguello dead inside of his jewelry store on the morning of Nov. 29, 2023, and began investigating the case as a possible robbery homicide.
They were looking for two men.
One was caught on surveillance video inside the store and was seen attempting to bind Arguello with flex cuffs before shooting him, while another was seen fleeing the scene with the first suspect.
Witnesses told police they saw two men leave through the back door of the jewelry store and jump in a red Chevy Silverado pickup truck that, police later determined, had been stolen and was found torched.
On Dec. 27, 2023, police arrested Shay and charged him with second-degree burglary, as well as felony motor vehicle theft in the second degree and criminal possession of an identification document, after he admitted to police that on Dec. 26, he had pried open the door and entered Peter Damian Fine Jewelry & Antiques.
According to an affidavit filed after Shay’s arrest, he told police he’d heard about the robbery homicide and decided to break in and steal what he could from the store because he knew it was unoccupied.
Ultimately, though, there was nothing in the store for him to take, Shay said.
Evidence recovered from the scene indicated that Shay knew more about Arguello’s murder than he was telling police, as DNA recovered from the flex cuffs left at the scene came back to Shay via the Combined DNA Index System, better known as CODIS.
Shay was charged in Arguello’s murder a couple weeks later, on Jan. 18, 2024.
According to the DA’s office, Shay’s trial lasted seven days, with deliberations beginning on Aug. 4 and the jury returning guilty verdicts on 10 of the 11 counts on the afternoon of Aug. 6.
There then was a second phase of the trial during which the jury weighed an 11th charge, called “habitual criminal,” that, under Colorado law, could add to Shay’s prison sentence.
Jurors heard from four additional witnesses about Shay’s six prior convictions and, after deliberating for an hour, found him guilty of being a habitual criminal, concluding that the prior convictions were “separate and distinct” criminal episodes, the DA’s office said.

The other charges the jury found Shay guilty of are: murder in the first degree, murder in the second degree, second-degree kidnapping, aggravated robbery, second-degree motor vehicle theft, second-degree arson, tampering with physical evidence, second-degree motor vehicle theft, and second-degree burglary.
His sentencing is set for Sept. 10, the DA’s office said, and he faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole on the first-degree murder charge alone.
The second man arrested and charged in connection with Arguello’s murder, 51-year-old Michael McCormack, is slated to go to trial Aug. 22.
The Latest

Emmanuel Raheb shares tips on how a jeweler’s showcases, marketing, and social media presence can whisper, instead of shout.

The private equity firm has a plan to revive the mall staple.

The “Super Book of Gems” dives into the Mohs Hardness Scale, the Four C’s, and designs from jewelers like Cartier and Bulgari.

With their unmatched services and low fees, reDollar.com is challenging some big names in the online consignment world.

Claudio Pasta will take the lead at the Italian fine jewelry brand, succeeding company founder Licia Mattioli.


The new lab-grown diamond jewelry offering is the latest expansion of the designer’s “Bliss” collection.

The miner is honoring the end of an era with an offering of 52 lots from the now-closed Argyle and the soon-to-close Diavik mines.

Jewelers of America is leading the charge to protect the industry amidst rising economic threats.

The California-based fine jewelry brand will retain its identity post-acquisition, with new collections launching next year.

The “Untamed” collection centers on carved gemstone jewelry depicting a range of animals embodying one of the four elemental forces.

Founded in 2004, the organization is now called the Community for Ethical Jewelry.

From Coco Gauff’s hoops to Madison Keys’ diamond medallion, these are Senior Editor Lenore Fedow’s standout jewelry looks of the season.

The trendy earrings feature asymmetrical drops, one with a grossular garnet and the other with a diamond.

Four social media marketing experts discuss their go-to methods and favorite tools for making high-quality short-form video content.

Sponsored by American Gem Trade Association

In its holiday report, PwC said the season will be more like jazz—improvisational and less predictable—than an easy-to-follow melody.

The jewelry giant will relocate its existing facility to a larger space in Anne Arundel.

The designer, who is the creative force behind her namesake brand, has now started a new mini line focusing on chains for fathers and sons.

The awards include tuition for a course at the Swiss lab, economy flights, and hotel accommodation.

The 21-day program was designed to help jewelry retailers identify opportunities and eliminate inefficiencies with AI.

A set of four Patek Philippe “Star Caliber 2000” pocket watches is part of Sotheby’s upcoming auction in Abu Dhabi.

The Brazilian jeweler’s latest book marks her namesake brand’s 25th anniversary and tells the tale of her worldwide collaborations.

The Submariner Ref. 1680 with a Tiffany & Co. dial came from the original owner, who won it as a prize on the game show in the 1970s.

The new integration allows users to manage shipments directly from the Shopify dashboard.

At Converge 2025, Editor-in-Chief Michelle Graff attended sessions on DEI, tariffs, security, and more. Here are her top takeaways.

The jeweler has expanded its high jewelry offering, which launched last year, with new pieces featuring its cube motif that debuted in 1999.

Ben Bridge Jeweler and Lux Bond & Green were a part of the pilot program.