Do you know who murdered Lonell Franklin and DeShon Lee in 2010? On a cold January night in Denver, Colorado, the life of 21-year-old Lonell Franklin, a Black male, was tragically cut short in a senseless act of violence. On January 11, 2010, what began as a night out with friends ended in a hail of bullets at a city intersection, leaving a community in mourning and a crime unsolved to this day.
Earlier in the evening, Franklin and his friend, DeShon Lee, were involved in a verbal altercation with an unidentified individual at a local liquor store.
Following the dispute, Franklin, Lee, and a female companion left the establishment. As they were stopped at a traffic light at Martin Luther King Boulevard and Steele Street, a silver or gray SUV pulled alongside their vehicle, and an occupant, or occupants, opened fire.
The sudden and brutal attack left Lonell Franklin dead at the scene. DeShon Lee, who was critically injured, was rushed to a nearby hospital but succumbed to his injuries later that night. The female passenger was also wounded in the shooting but survived. The suspect vehicle fled the scene immediately after the assault, disappearing into the night.
In the years that have passed, the investigation into the murders of Lonell Franklin and DeShon Lee has grown cold. Despite appeals to the public for information and a reward being offered, no arrests have been made, and no suspects have been publicly identified. The case remains an open and painful chapter for the families of the victims, a stark reminder of a violent night that claimed two young lives and left a void in the heart of a community. The Denver Police Department continues to classify the case as a cold case homicide, holding out hope that one day, new information will lead to a breakthrough and bring justice for Lonell Franklin and DeShon Lee.
