In the early hours of December 30, 2023, a burst of gunfire shattered the night on West Colfax Avenue in Denver, forever altering the lives of many. When the chaos subsided, 41-year-old Brandon Houston, a White male, was among the victims of a quadruple shooting. The incident, which unfolded around 1:30 a.m. near Xavier and Wolff Streets, claimed two lives and left two other men wounded. Houston, along with 38-year-old Jason Lewis, succumbed to fatal gunshot wounds.
The Denver Office of the Medical Examiner later confirmed the manner of death for both men was homicide.
The shooting reportedly stemmed from a disturbance outside The Viking bar. In the days that followed the tragic event, the Denver Police Department launched an intensive investigation to piece together the events of that night and bring those responsible to justice. Family and friends were left devastated by the sudden and violent loss of Houston, who was remembered as a beloved husband, father, son, and brother.
The investigation led police to identify a suspect in the double homicide. Matthew L. Johnson, then 53 years old, was publicly named and wanted for murder and aggravated assault in connection with the deadly shooting. For nearly two years, Johnson remained a fugitive, his whereabouts unknown. The pursuit for justice continued, with law enforcement agencies appealing to the public for any information that might lead to his capture.
A significant breakthrough in the case came thanks to a community tip. After the FBI and the Denver Police Department announced a $10,000 reward for information, a viewer who saw news coverage of the case came forward. This crucial piece of information led the FBI Safe Streets Task Force and Denver police officers to locate Johnson in north Denver. He was arrested and finally taken into custody, bringing a measure of relief to the families of Brandon Houston and Jason Lewis, as the judicial process against him could finally begin.
