In the spring of 2019, the life of a 33-year-old White/Caucasian man, Cody Raver, was cut tragically short. On April 15, 2019, in Albuquerque, New Mexico, what began as a seemingly ordinary day at the Los Altos skate park would end in violence and loss. Raver, a well-known and beloved figure in the local skateboarding community, found himself in a fatal confrontation.
The incident began when a man named Steven Beck accused a group of men, including Raver, of selling drugs to children at
the park. This accusation led to a heated argument that quickly escalated into a physical fight. In the midst of the altercation, Beck produced a firearm and shot Cody Raver. The single gunshot proved to be fatal, and Raver died at the scene, leaving his friends and the broader skateboarding community in shock and disbelief.
In the aftermath of the shooting, Steven Beck was arrested and charged with Raver's murder. The case proceeded to trial, where the events of that day were scrutinized. However, despite the testimony of witnesses, the legal proceedings concluded with a verdict that stunned many who knew Raver. In May 2021, a jury acquitted Steven Beck of second-degree murder and battery. The Bernalillo County District Attorney's Office noted the difficulty of the case, acknowledging that the violent encounter was not captured on video, and stated that while they disagreed with the self-defense claim, they respected the jury's decision. For Raver's friends, the acquittal was a devastating blow, with one expressing that it felt as though Beck had gotten away with murder.
In the wake of his death, friends of Cody Raver sought a way to create a lasting tribute to their fallen friend. They came together to build a homemade skate ramp at the Los Altos skate park, a place where Raver had spent countless hours. In a unique and personal gesture of remembrance, they mixed some of Cody Raver's ashes into the cement used to construct the ramp, forever embedding his memory into the fabric of the community he loved.
