Alicia Cardenas, a 44-year-old female, was a beloved and influential figure in the Denver community, known for her artistry as a muralist and the owner of Sol Tribe Custom Tattoo and Body Piercing. On December 27, 2021, her life was tragically cut short when a gunman entered her tattoo shop on Broadway and opened fire. Cardenas was among the first victims in a violent shooting spree that terrorized the Denver and Lakewood areas.
Another victim, Alyssa Gunn-Maldonado, was also killed at Sol Tribe, and Alyssa's husband, Jimmy, was injured.
The assailant, identified as 47-year-old Lyndon James McLeod, continued his rampage across the metro area, killing three other people: Danny Scofield, Sarah Steck, and Michael Swinyard. Authorities reported that McLeod had personal or business relationships with most of his victims. McLeod had been on the radar of law enforcement, having been investigated in the years prior to the shooting, though no charges were filed.
The deadly spree concluded in the Belmar shopping center in Lakewood. There, McLeod shot and wounded a Lakewood police officer who confronted him. The officer returned fire, killing McLeod at the scene. Alicia Cardenas, a proud Indigenous artist and a mother, is remembered for her significant contributions to Denver's art scene and her role as a mentor to many.
