On the evening of April 26, 2022, a grim discovery was made inside a northeast Denver apartment, when a woman entered to find a scene of bloodshed, with three people lying on the floor. The victims were 65-year-old Denise Hood, her 23-year-old grandson Donn'e Allen, Jr., and her 4-year-old great-grandson, Me'Khi Parham Allen. All three had been shot multiple times and were pronounced deceased at the scene in what the medical examiner would later rule as homicides.
Investigators found numerous spent cartridge casings within the entryway, kitchen, and living room of the apartment located near 60th Avenue and Ceylon Street. There were no signs of forced entry, leading police to believe the shooting had occurred inside the residence.
In the wake of the devastating loss, family members gathered for a vigil, remembering Denise as a beautiful person who loved everybody, especially children. Her sister, Suzette Robinson, described Denise as the matriarch of the family and expressed the family's profound grief and confusion, questioning who could commit such a violent act against a family, including a small child. The community was left in shock, with neighbors anxiously awaiting answers as police began the search for the person or persons responsible for the triple homicide.
The investigation quickly gained momentum thanks to a series of anonymous tips. Multiple tips pointed towards an individual known as 'EJ,' who was eventually identified as 24-year-old Elijah Jaquez Hood. In a tragic turn of events, the suspect was Denise Hood's own nephew. Investigators learned that there may have been a falling out between Elijah Hood and his family members. Acting on the information received, police tracked Elijah Hood to an apartment near E. Hampden Avenue and S. Tamarac Drive, where he was taken into custody on May 8, 2022. He was subsequently charged with three counts of first-degree murder, one count of child abuse resulting in death, and one count of first-degree burglary. Elijah Hood had a prior criminal record and was not legally eligible to possess a weapon. The arrest brought a sense of relief to the grieving family, though they were still left to process the horrific incident.
