On a cold Sunday afternoon, January 4, 2015, the life of Daerius Rashaud Churchill, a 22-year-old Black male, was tragically cut short in what became the first homicide of the year in Denver, Colorado. Churchill was walking near the intersection of East Bruce Randolph Avenue and North Steele Street, on his way to a recording studio to pursue his passion for music, when he was struck by multiple gunshots.
The shots were fired from a passing vehicle in a drive-by shooting.
First responders arrived at the scene around 4:30 p.m. to find Churchill gravely wounded. He was quickly transported to a local hospital, but his injuries proved to be too severe, and he died less than an hour later. Remembered by family and friends as a relentlessly positive and inspiring young man, Churchill was deeply dedicated to his church, his community, and his family. He was an aspiring entertainer who performed in shows around the Denver area and also worked as a transporter at Denver International Airport.
In the years following the shooting, the case has grown cold, and no arrests have been made. Churchill's death is one of many unsolved homicides in Denver. His mother, Therell Churchill, believes that even though her son was not involved in gangs, his murder was gang-related. The Denver Police Department has continued to ask for the public's help, and a reward has been offered for any information that could lead to the identification and arrest of the person or persons responsible for his death. The lack of witnesses, attributed to the cold weather on the day of the shooting, has made the investigation particularly challenging, leaving his family still searching for justice and closure.
