In the crisp autumn air of October 25, 2021, the life of Robert Earl Turner, a 54-year-old male, was brought to an abrupt and violent end in an alley in Denver, Colorado. A painter and warehouse worker by trade, Robert was remembered by his mother as an intelligent and energetic child. He was a man who took pride in his work and was an active member of the Spiritual Mind Deliverance Church, where he was even taking classes to become a Deacon.
In his personal time, he found joy in comedy and the thrill of football, especially cheering for his favorite team, the Denver Broncos. He was a father and grandfather, leaving behind a son, daughters, and grandchildren to cherish his memory.
The circumstances of that fateful day unfolded in a desolate alley behind Monaco Street. Denver police, responding to a 911 call, discovered Mr. Turner with a single gunshot wound to his upper chest. Paramedics who arrived at the scene were unable to save him, and he was pronounced dead. The cold reality of the situation was captured on video surveillance which showed two cars pulling into the alley. The chilling sounds of a male voice ordering someone out of a car, followed by a single gunshot, painted a grim picture of Robert Turner's final moments. A second voice, believed to be Turner's, was heard calling out for his mother just before the fatal shot was fired.
The investigation into the senseless killing led to the arrest of Warren Simpson. Prosecutors were able to prove that it was Simpson's voice on the video demanding Robert Turner exit the vehicle. After a five-day trial, a Denver jury deliberated for approximately four hours before finding Warren Simpson guilty of second-degree murder. The conviction brought a measure of justice for the tragic loss of a man who was a beloved son, father, and member of his community.
