In the fading light of a January afternoon in Denver, Colorado, a violent act shattered the winter calm. Paul Baca, a 45-year-old Hispanic male, was fatally shot on January 22, 2021, near the intersection of West Alameda Avenue and South Raritan Street. After the shooting, he was rushed to a nearby hospital in a private vehicle, but the efforts to save him were unsuccessful, and he was pronounced dead.
The Denver Police Department quickly classified the homicide as one of a handful of
gang-related killings in the city for that year. In the immediate aftermath, however, details from law enforcement were scarce. While investigators worked the case, no information about potential suspects was publicly released, leaving the case officially open and unsolved for a period. Police did release photos of a vehicle of interest, described as an older model dark green or black over gold SUV, which was seen leaving the area with a rear window damaged by gunshots.
Later, the investigation into a surge of violence in west Denver revealed a brutal war between two rival street gangs, 'Few But Plenty' and 'Too Damn Smooth'. It was within this bloody conflict that the motive for Baca's death became clear. Investigators blamed members of the 2D$ gang for his murder. The killing was a significant event that escalated the ongoing feud, as Paul Baca's brother, Phillip Baca, was the leader of the rival FBP gang, and Baca's own son was a member. The violence that followed included dozens of drive-by shootings that terrorized neighborhoods.
Ultimately, a massive law enforcement effort led to the indictment and dismantling of both gangs. While specific individuals were not publicly named as being convicted solely for Paul Baca's murder, the leader of the 2D$ crew, Angel 'Taz' Espinoza, was sentenced to 95 years in prison for a multitude of crimes, including two counts of second-degree murder, as his gang was held responsible for the shooting. The broader prosecution brought down key figures from both sides of the conflict, including Baca's brother, Phillip, who was sentenced to 33 years in prison for his role in leading the FBP gang's violent retaliatory acts.
