A Sunday afternoon gathering on Easter at a Denver park took a tragic turn, leaving 43-year-old Sharon Ware dead from a gunshot wound. The incident, which unfolded on April 5, 2026, at Russell Square Park on Vine Street, also resulted in the death of 18-year-old Pharrow Ware.
Sharon Ware was attending a family event in the park when a violent exchange of gunfire erupted at approximately 6:00 p.m.
Investigators believe at least one individual in a passing vehicle and at least one person at the family gathering were involved in the shootout. During the chaos, Sharon was struck by a bullet and was transported from the 3600 block of Vine Street to Denver Health Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead. The Denver Office of the Medical Examiner later confirmed the cause of death as a gunshot wound and ruled the manner of death a homicide. Pharrow Ware succumbed to his injuries a week later.
In the course of their investigation, police identified a 34-year-old man who was present at the family gathering as the individual who allegedly shot Sharon Ware. Despite this identification, the Denver District Attorney's Office made the decision not to file homicide charges against him, stating there was "no reasonable likelihood of conviction." Authorities have indicated they are exploring the possibility of other charges against this individual.
The vehicle believed to have been involved in the shooting was discovered abandoned about four hours after the incident and was identified as stolen. As of the latest reports, no arrests have been made in connection with the shooting. The investigation into the identity of the occupants of the vehicle and the motive for the exchange of gunfire is ongoing.
