Denver police arrest suspect in fatal West Colfax shooting
Police arrested a suspect in connection to the fatal shooting that occurred in a Denver Circle K parking lot earlier this month.
The Denver Police Department arrested 40-year-old Deangelo Luarks on Monday on suspicion of first-degree murder in connection to the shooting and killing of a 31-year-old man that occurred on Nov. 3, according to a press release from the department.
The incident occurred around 2:30 a.m. in the parking lot of a Circle K near 1300 W. Colfax Ave. Officers responded to a ShotSpotter report of a single gunshot in the area, according to arrest records.
Upon arrival, police found a man suffering from a gunshot to the chest in the parking lot. He was taken to a nearby hospital, where he later died from his injuries.
Investigators obtained security camera footage from both the store and a nearby homes. The footage showed a suspect arguing with a woman outside of the store. The victim then talked to the two, though audio was not recorded. The suspect then pulled a handgun from his jacket and fired at the victim from around five feet away before fleeing the scene.
Further security camera footage showed the suspect running before entering his nearby vehicle and leaving. The woman entered the store with another woman and left on foot when police arrived, according to arrest records.
A handgun was found in a nearby gutter where the suspect had fled to initially.
Detectives were able to connect the vehicle in the video footage to Luarks, eventually identifying him as the suspect from the footage.
On Friday, a Westminster Community Parole officer arrested Luarks for missing a required urinalysis, according to arrest records. During the arrest, the officer had to subdue Luarks with a taser.
The Denver Office of the Medical Examiner will release the victim’s identity and cause and manner of death after investigations and the Denver District Attorney’s Office will determine official charges against Luarks.
Luarks is due in court on Friday.