In the early hours of a Sunday morning in Denver's Park Hill neighborhood, a gathering outside a motorcycle club turned into a scene of violence that claimed the life of 39-year-old Joshua Batts. On November 5, 2023, gunfire erupted outside the Hell's Lovers Motorcycle Club, leaving Batts and another man, 43-year-old Michael David, dead and three others wounded. Batts, a husband and father of five, was an Army veteran with 13 years of service.
His family described him as a man who loved to have fun, lived life to the fullest, and took great pride in his motorcycle and his family. He had moved to Denver from Texas for a job opportunity, aiming to build a better life for his wife and children.
The investigation into the shooting led to the arrests of two men, 40-year-old Todd Washington and 32-year-old Shon McPherson. Both suspects were also injured by gunfire during the incident. The Denver District Attorney's Office later announced that Washington and McPherson would each face two counts of first-degree murder and three counts of attempted first-degree murder. The motive behind the shooting was not immediately released, but the charges indicated a belief that the act was deliberate and premeditated.
In the wake of the tragedy, Batts's family was left grappling with immense grief and a multitude of unanswered questions. His father-in-law remembered him as 'the son that I never had,' with an infectious smile and a personality that was 'out of this world.' The family, concerned for their safety, chose to remain anonymous in media interviews. The community was left to mourn the loss of a devoted family man and veteran whose life was cut short in a senseless act of violence. Denver Police also sought the public's help in identifying another man they wished to speak with in connection to the shooting, releasing a photo of the individual and a description of the car he was believed to be driving.
