In the afternoon hours of a Tuesday in Denver, Colorado, what began as a drive to a job interview ended in a fatal roadside confrontation for 22-year-old Damon Lucas. On June 13, 2023, Damon and his younger brother, 21-year-old Blake Lucas, were traveling together on Interstate 25 when they became involved in a road rage incident with another driver.
The dispute escalated, leading both vehicles to stop on the interstate.
The situation turned violent when one of the brothers approached the other vehicle. The driver of that car, later identified as 25-year-old Stephen Long, discharged his weapon, shooting one of the brothers. In a desperate attempt to intervene, the other brother clung to Long's vehicle as he attempted to drive away. More shots were fired, and the second brother fell from the car. One of the Lucas brothers was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other was rushed to a local hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries. Damon was an aspiring professional skateboarder and a talented tattoo artist.
An off-duty police detective who was nearby and heard the gunshots followed Stephen Long's vehicle, leading to his arrest shortly after the incident. Long was taken into custody without any injuries reported. He was initially charged with two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Damon and Blake Lucas.
However, in a significant development in August 2024, the Denver District Attorney's Office announced it was dropping all charges against Stephen Long. The decision was based on a determination that the evidence supported a strong and valid claim of self-defense, making it impossible for the prosecution to prove his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Supporters of Long had advocated for the charges to be dropped, arguing that he was the victim of an unprovoked attack and that the case had been unfairly influenced by racial bias, as Long is Black and the Lucas brothers were white. Following the dismissal of the charges, the mother of Damon and Blake Lucas expressed her intent to pursue a wrongful death lawsuit.
