In the spring of 2015, a wave of violence was unsettling residents of Denver's Cole neighborhood. It was against this backdrop of rising tensions that 26-year-old Dominique Perez, a Black male, lost his life in a sudden burst of gunfire. On the evening of April 28th, at approximately 9:45 p.m., an unknown assailant fired multiple rounds at a residence in the 1700 block of East 35th Avenue.
Two individuals were struck by the bullets, and while one survived their injuries, Perez was rushed to a nearby hospital where he ultimately succumbed to his wounds.
The Denver Police Department quickly began an investigation into the shooting, which they characterized as possibly being gang-related. They appealed to the public for any information that could lead to the identification and apprehension of the shooter, who was described only as an unknown Black male. The incident was believed to be part of a larger, escalating conflict between rival gangs in the area, a sentiment echoed by anti-gang activists who noted a coordinated and strategic nature to the recent violence.
Despite the efforts of law enforcement and the pleas for community assistance, the case grew cold. Information was not forthcoming, and no suspects were publicly identified or arrested in connection with the murder of Dominique Perez. His death became another unsolved homicide, leaving a family to grieve and a community on edge. The case remains open in the Colorado Cold Case Files, a silent testament to a life cut short by violence that fateful April night.
