In the early morning hours of Sunday, November 29, 2015, a gathering in Phoenix, Arizona, turned tragic, ending the life of 21-year-old Rodney Foster Denney Jr. Denney was at a party in the vicinity of 9000 West Sells Drive when a group of about five Hispanic males and females sought entry but were turned away as the event was concluding.
An altercation erupted, escalating into a physical fight between the women of the group and a female from the party.
In a moment of selfless courage, Denney stepped in to intervene. It was then that someone from the visiting group produced a firearm and shot him. The group of suspects fled the scene, leaving Denney with a fatal gunshot wound from which he would not recover.
Described as a loving son, brother, and father to a young daughter, Denney was known by his family and friends for his protective nature. He had been working as security for the party on the night he was killed. An aspiring firefighter and paramedic, he also had a passion for the outdoors, cars, and motorcycles. His family remembers him as a bright light in the lives of those he touched, a young man who was always there to support his loved ones.
The Phoenix Police Department investigated the homicide, and the case was featured by Silent Witness in an appeal to the public for information. The suspects were described as a group of approximately five Hispanic males and females. Despite these efforts, information regarding any arrests or the identification of a specific suspect remains publicly unavailable.
