In the early morning hours of January 23, 2023, a verbal dispute within a Montrose, Colorado, home escalated into a fatal shooting, claiming the life of 59-year-old David Lofley. The male victim was at the residence he shared with his girlfriend and her 26-year-old son, Elijah Johnson. An argument reportedly began when Lofley confronted Johnson about being noisy late at night while being unemployed and sleeping all day.
The disagreement appeared to momentarily subside, but soon
reignited. Lofley's girlfriend, the mother of the suspect, told authorities she heard the two men arguing again. She reported turning away for a moment and then hearing a gunshot. When she looked back, she saw Lofley on the ground and her son, Elijah Johnson, standing in his bedroom doorway holding a gun. She then witnessed Johnson allegedly fire a second shot at Lofley's head.
Following the shooting, Johnson's mother called the police. When officers arrived, they found Johnson in the kitchen and took him into custody without incident. David Lofley was transported to Montrose Regional Health, where he was pronounced dead.
Elijah Johnson was arrested and subsequently charged in connection with the death of David Lofley. Prosecutors later argued for a first-degree murder charge, contending that Johnson acted with deliberation and intentionally caused Lofley's death. The case then moved into the hands of the Montrose Police Department and the Montrose County Coroner's Office for further investigation.
