In the fall of 2022, a burst of gunfire shattered the afternoon calm in Denver's East Colfax neighborhood, leaving a scene of chaos and violence. When the shooting stopped, one man lay dead and five others were wounded. The deceased was identified as Allen Dawkins, a 31-year-old male who succumbed to a fatal gunshot wound. The incident occurred around 2 p.m.
on Tuesday, November 1, 2022, in the 1400 block of Verbena Street.
According to Denver police, the attack was carried out by suspects who arrived at the scene in a vehicle. They reportedly exited the car, fired multiple rounds from handguns into a group of people that included four men and two women, and then quickly fled. The suspects were seen getting back into their vehicle and speeding away from the area. In an attempt to cover their tracks, they abandoned their initial vehicle near 12th Avenue and Yosemite Street and switched to a black Ford Explorer. This second vehicle was later found by law enforcement in the 3900 block of Colorado Boulevard several hours after the shooting.
The five other victims of the shooting were expected to survive their injuries. In the days following the incident, the Denver Office of the Medical Examiner formally identified Allen Dawkins as the lone fatality. Despite locating the getaway vehicle, authorities continued their search for the suspects responsible for the deadly assault. The investigation into the motive and the individuals behind the shooting that claimed the life of Allen Dawkins remained ongoing as police appealed to the public for any information that might lead to an arrest.
