A 20-year-old charged in the shooting death of a teenager in Memorial Park on Saturday allegedly was in disbelief over his arrest and thought no one had died that night, court documents obtained by The Gazette show.

“How can I be charged with murder when no one is dead?” Malaki Branch, 20, allegedly told police.

Branch is accused of fatally shooting Haywood Trisby, 19, as Trisby’s vehicle trailed a vehicle with Branch in the backseat following a brief shouting altercation with “derogatory statements” in the park around 2 a.m.

Several witnesses told police the shooting followed a small group of individuals visiting several locations, including a house party, late that night. They moved to Memorial Park when a police drone spotted them in Wildflower Park, eventually leading to the argument and shooting, according to court documents.

The driver of the vehicle Branch allegedly shot from told police that Trisby’s vehicle began driving “on his bumper” after he attempted to drive away following the brief altercation in Memorial Park. He allegedly heard a gunshot toward his vehicle before Branch grabbed a handgun and fired at Trisby’s vehicle, court documents show.

He drove off after assessing the vehicle for damage, and the pair were both stopped by police shortly after.

“I can’t believe I got caught,” Branch allegedly said spontaneously upon his initial contact with officers.

When interviewed by police, Branch claimed he carries a gun for his “own protection,” but that it was not used in the early morning shooting, according to court documents. He added that he was not near Memorial Park at the time of the shooting.

The cartridge found at the scene matches the “description” of Branch’s 40-caliber Smith & Wesson handgun, according to court documents.

Branch is being held without bond on charges of first-degree murder, five counts of attempted first-degree murder and using a weapon during a violent crime. He is set to appear before an El Paso County judge for his first appearance hearing on Aug. 4.

Colorado court records show Branch has no other publicly available criminal case history.