COMMERCE CITY, Colo. — Prosecutors formally charged a local anti-gun violence advocate with first-degree murder in connection with the fatal shooting of a man at a child's birthday party in Commerce City over the weekend.
Lumumba Sayers, 46, is also charged with two counts of menacing, according to the 17th Judicial District Attorney's Office.
The courtroom was packed with both supporters of Sayers and Malcolm Watson - the man who died. So many people attended the hearing that the judge needed to create an overflow room. Several decided to stand near the doors or listen to the proceedings via a livestream on their phone.
"Every person in this courtroom is feeling loss," the judge said.
Sayers is accused of shooting 28-year-old Watson in the head on Saturday in the parking lot of the Paradice Island pool in Commerce City.
On Thursday, a judge ordered a $5 million cash only bond for Sayers. Prosecutors said there were significant community safety concerns for Watson's family. They also shared concerns about continued violence if Sayers is out of custody.
Family and friends of Watson told the court they feared for their life if Sayers was released from jail.
Sayers was an MMA fighter and founded Aurora’s Heavy Hands Heavy Hearts Foundation. His son Lumumba Sayers Jr., was shot and killed on Aug. 19, 2023, at 28th and Welton streets in Denver.
According to an arrest affidavit from Commerce City Police, witnesses saw Sayers Sr. “walk up and shoot the victim in the head at close range.”
The affidavit goes on to suggest “a possible motive.”
“Witnesses had stated the [shooter’s son] had been murdered about a year ago by a friend of the deceased […] and this murder was probably in retaliation or revenge,” the document says.
9NEWS spoke to Watson's sister by phone on Monday. She said the birthday party was for Watson's 5-year-old son. According to the sister, her brother is innocent and wasn't involved in the death of Sayers' son.
According to prosecutors on Thursday, there is no evidence of another shooter involved the incident on Saturday. They claimed Sayers tried to plant a gun under Watson's body to set up a justified self defense argument.
Sayers' attorney, Megan Downing, asked the court to lower his original $1 million cash only bond. She said her client is presumed innocent and is entitled to a reasonable bond. She told the judge the outpouring of support for Sayers is something she's never seen. According to Downing, she received a packet of letters - some of them were from young people who described Sayers as someone who guided them away from violence.
She called Sayers the "antithesis of what he is accused of."
Downing requested a cash, property, or surety bond around $100,000 to $200,000 cash.
"He should be released and returned to the community he serves," Downing said.
Watson's sister called Sayers a "monster" as she asked the judge to not reduce his bond. She said, "he's a man with a vengeance who doesn't deserve to be a part of our community."
At one point, Watson's mother became very emotional and began yelling as she asked the judge to keep Sayers bond high. Deputies needed to take Sayers to another room for a short time.
The judge ruled to increase the bond to $5 million cash only.
As people spilled out of the courtroom and left the courthouse, armed deputies stood outside to make sure people stayed peaceful.
