Vaughn Anderson, 29, a Black male, was shot on the evening of January 12, 2023, near 21st and Lawrence streets in Denver’s Five Points/Ballpark area. Police were called around 7:30 p.m.; Anderson was rushed to a hospital, where he died of his injuries. The Denver Office of the Medical Examiner identified him publicly the next day, and news outlets reported the location and timeline as detectives canvassed the busy corridor for witnesses and surveillance footage that might explain what led up
to the gunfire.
In the weeks that followed, investigators and community partners emphasized the need for tips. Metro Denver Crime Stoppers announced a special reward—ultimately increased to as much as $10,000—for information leading to an arrest, signaling that detectives believed community input could help close crucial gaps in the case. Public appeals reiterated the time and place of the shooting and asked anyone who was in the area or who might have recordings from nearby buildings or vehicles to come forward.
Open sources do not reflect any arrests or the public identification of a suspect connected to Anderson’s killing. Coverage focused on the fatal shooting itself and the subsequent reward increase, with authorities continuing to seek leads rather than naming a person of interest. Memorial listings for Anderson mark the date and city of his death and point back to local reporting and the Crime Stoppers appeal, underscoring that the investigation remains dependent on witness information.
