In the winter chill of December 23, 2023, the life of 22-year-old Bryce Holden was tragically cut short in the parking lot of his workplace in Thornton, Colorado. A male employee at Topgolf, Holden was leaving his shift when he was ambushed and fatally shot by a fellow co-worker. The vibrant young man, known for his infectious humor and warm presence, was remembered by his family as a joy to be around, someone who was always joking and had a knack for making people laugh.
The events of that night unfolded after his colleague, Victor Salazar-Guarache, left his own shift early. Instead of going home, Salazar-Guarache waited in the parking lot for over an hour. As Bryce Holden and another co-worker exited the building, Salazar-Guarache confronted them and opened fire, discharging his weapon multiple times. Holden was struck and killed, while his other colleague managed to escape back into the building unharmed. A witness to the horrific event later told authorities that they saw the shooter laughing as he got back into his car and drove away from the scene.
A few hours after the shooting, law enforcement apprehended Victor Salazar-Guarache. He was subsequently charged in connection with the murder. In the face of the evidence against him, Salazar-Guarache pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and second-degree attempted murder. His plea agreement resulted in a 48-year prison sentence, bringing a measure of judicial closure to a senseless act of violence that deeply impacted a family and a community. Bryce's father, in remembering his son, shared that Bryce was a person with deeply rooted values who was always striving for self-improvement and had aspirations of learning Spanish and moving to Barcelona.
