In the early morning hours of August 12, 2015, the relative quiet of a Denver street was broken by the sound of gunfire. Responding to calls from concerned neighbors, police arrived at the intersection of 22nd and Stout Streets in the Five Points neighborhood around 2:15 a.m. There, they discovered a man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. The victim was identified as Derrick Wilford, a 36-year-old Black male.
Emergency personnel rushed him to Denver Health Medical Center, but his injuries proved fatal, and he was pronounced dead a short time later.
The investigation into the shooting began immediately, with detectives canvassing the area for evidence and witnesses. The case was officially ruled a homicide. Despite the belief that several people were in the vicinity at the time of the shooting, and conflicting initial information about a potential suspect, a clear picture of the events leading to Wilford's death failed to emerge. No suspect description was ever publicly released by the Denver Police Department.
In the days and weeks that followed, authorities appealed to the public for assistance, urging anyone with information, no matter how insignificant it might seem, to come forward. A reward was offered for tips that could lead to an arrest and conviction. However, despite these pleas and the ongoing investigation, the case grew cold. No arrests have ever been made in connection with the murder of Derrick Wilford, and the identity of his killer or killers remains unknown, leaving his family without answers or justice.
