AURORA, Colo. — The Aurora Police Department held a news conference Wednesday with one of the victims' parents to ask for the public's help getting information about a double homicide that occurred in August.
On Aug. 19, firefighters responded to the area East 22nd Avenue and Galena Street on a report of an unresponsive person lying on the ground. When they arrived, they found the person dead. Police officers responded around 6:55 a.m. and found a second victim a short distance away who was also dead.
Two friends— 25-year-old Omar Williams and 27-year-old Kejuan Mays— were fatally shot multiple times, said Sgt. Jeff Longnecker of Aurora's Major Crimes Homicide Unit.
Since Aug. 19, police have obtained video footage that shows the victims' bodies being dumped from Williams' car at the alley where they were later found by passerby, said Longnecker. There is no evidence that suggests the shooting occurred in the location where the victims were found, he added.
The sergeant said Williams' car vanished and has not been found yet, and urged the public to call 911 if they see a vehicle that matches the following description, which he said is "key" to solving this case:
- 2016 Dodge Journey.
- Rear tire hub cap missing on the passenger side.
- BSC099 license plate, though police encouraged people to report cars that match the description of Omar's even if they have a different license plate, as plates can be changed.
Longnecker said the victims were last seen in downtown Denver with some of their other friends. The last time they were captured on video was driving out of the downtown area at around 2 a.m., presumably to go home.
The sergeant said there were no signs of any fighting or other problems taking place that night.
He said investigators "lost track" of the victims' whereabouts in the timeframe between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. and added that someone intentionally shut off both of their phones during that 4-hour period.
Longnecker also asked that anyone with information about what the victims were doing after 2 a.m. to report it to police.
Williams' parents, Antonio and Femina Hawkins, joined Aurora Police in asking for the public's help to solve the murder of their son and his friend, Mays.
"We are begging and pleading for anybody's help," said Antonio.
Femina said Williams had celebrated his 25th birthday on Aug. 8, just days before he was killed. She said Williams, who was originally from Virginia, had come to Colorado on a one-year break to become more financially stable before graduating college— he was set to graduate next year with a degree in computer science and programming. Williams was also getting ready to move to California to start a new job.
"I feel robbed of a lifetime of success that I know he was aiming for," said Femina.
Antonio said his son was good friends with Mays, who he'd personally met on several occasions. Antonio mentioned Mays had a young son of his own.
No information was shared about possible suspects in this case and the sergeant said it is unknown if the victims had a relationship with whoever was responsible. Investigators do not have a motive.
Anyone who has information about this case can contact the Aurora Police Departments or Metro Denver Crime Stoppers, where a $2,000 reward has been offered.
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