DENVER — The Denver district attorney is moving to drop the remaining murder charge against a man accused in the deaths of two brothers.
Stephan Long claimed self-defense after the June 13, 2023, shooting, saying he feared for his life before he pulled the trigger and killed Damon and Blake Lucas on Interstate 25 near Eighth Avenue. He was arrested moments after the shooting and was charged with two counts of first-degree murder. One of those charges was later dropped.
According to court records, Long told investigators the two men pulled up next to him on the highway, yelled at him and attacked him. Long told 9NEWS he was scared and couldn't get away, so he shot the men and kept driving.
On Wednesday, Denver District Attorney Beth McCann announced in a statement that she would seek to drop the remaining murder charge against Long.
"After a careful and comprehensive review of all the evidence in the case -- which included numerous consultations with members of my office -- and after applying Colorado law to the evidence, I have concluded that we could not prove Mr. Long's guilt to a jury beyond a reasonable doubt," the statement said. "The evidence establishes a strong and valid self-defense claim pursuant to Colorado law. As a result, we will ask the court to dismiss the remaining charges against Mr. Long. This was an extremely difficult and heart-wrenching decision but, ultimately, in my opinion, the correct one.
The Denver Justice Project released the following statement on behalf of the Long family after McCann's announcement:
"This dismissal represents the justice Stephan deserved from the very beginning. Unfortunately, the delayed injustice he has endured throughout his criminal proceedings has brought to light significant systemic inadequacies and racial disparities in the application of self-defense laws, particularly when Black men are forced to defend themselves against white aggressors. It is our hope that this dismissal not only rectifies the wrongs done to Stephan but also serves as a crucial step toward addressing these broader issues. We believe this case could set an important precedent in the legal system, paving the way for fairer and more equitable treatment for all."
Long's trial was set for this November.