DENVER — A 14-year-old boy has been identified as the victim of a shooting that happened early Friday morning near Northfield High School, according to a Crime Stoppers bulletin distributed by Denver police.
Aiden Lawrence was shot to death near East 54th Avenue and North Xenia Street in the Northfield Stapleton neighborhood at about 2:30 a.m. Friday.
Family members of Aiden met with neighbors Monday in the Northfield Stapleton neighborhood where the shooting happened to grieve and search for answers.
Aiden's uncle, Tremaine Lawrence, said his nephew had been out with a group that night and he had trouble contacting him before he was shot.
"I wish I could have
been here to protect him, because that’s all me and my family have been trying to do his whole life, is protect him. A lot of us feel like we failed, " Tremaine Lawrence said. "And a lot of
people are going to say that we failed. But we didn’t. Aiden was just here at
the wrong place at the wrong time. There was nothing we could do about it."
Residents who live in Northfield Stapleton told 9NEWS they are concerned about a spike in crime in recent months, including break-ins and thefts. The community is meeting with Denver Police Wednesday night to consider a neighborhood watch program.
Community Leader Brother Jeff Fard, who works with teens and victims of crime, said these tragedies involving youth have no boundaries.
"I can see neighbors right now saying, 'Why is this happening here?' And my answer would be, 'Why wouldn’t it be happening there, unless you're disconnected from what’s happening everywhere?'” Fard said.
Denver Police confirmed they do not have any suspects in custody as few details have been released involving Lawrence's case.
Aiden's family is planning to hold a vigil Tuesday night at 8 p.m. where he was shot and killed.
"Violence and people losing their lives, that’s sad enough," said Joe Montoya, DPD's division chief of investigations. "But when it's such a young life, that didn’t get an opportunity to live life, that makes it that much sadder."
Anyone with information about his death is asked to call Crime Stoppers immediately. Callers can remain anonymous and could be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000.
DPD officers responded to three separate homicides that occurred within the city between 6 p.m Thursday and 3 a.m. Friday, Aug. 9. They also responded to a fourth shooting within that time frame but said the incidents appear to be unrelated.
Officers first responded to a report of a shooting around 6:20 p.m. Thursday near West Colorado Avenue and South Meade Street in southwest Denver.
Family members identified the victim as 19-year-old Darrell Mitchell. Loved ones returned to the scene of the shooting Friday night, looking for neighbors or possible witnesses that might have new information about what happened.
"We're not stopping until we find out what happened to my little brother," said Mitchell's sister, Albria Hooks.
"We want to find the killer," added his cousin, LaShea McQeary. "We're not stopping until we find the killer."
A second shooting was reported just before 2 a.m. Friday in the area of 12400 E. Albrook Drive, near E. 47th Avenue and Peoria Street in the Montbello neighborhood, according to a tweet from DPD.
Officers located two victims, an adult man, and an adult woman. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene, the man was taken to the hospital with critical injuries but is expected to survive according to police.
About 30 minutes later, officers responded to a report of a business burglary with shots fired in the 3200 block of N. Julian St. in the West Highland neighborhood.
An adult man, who appears to be a bystander, was transported to the hospital with non-life threatening gunshot wounds, a spokesperson for DPD said.
In each of these separate cases, Denver Police homicide detectives are asking for the community to call Metro Denver Crime Stoppers with any information at 720-913-7867.
Tippers can remain anonymous and be eligible for a reward of up to $2,000.
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