In the west Denver neighborhood, a Tuesday afternoon was shattered by the sound of gunfire that would ultimately end the life of 42-year-old Joseph Heck. On November 10, 2020, in the 1400 block of Xavier Street, Heck was fatally shot. The Denver Medical Examiner's Office would later confirm that he died from multiple gunshot wounds and his death was ruled a homicide.
Responding to a 911 call around 2:40 p.m., Denver Police officers discovered Heck lying in a stairwell with an apparent
gunshot wound. A witness reported hearing what they believed to be gunshots and then saw a man walking away from the area. Faced with a critical choice, the witness decided to stay and render aid to Heck while contacting emergency services. Paramedics with the Denver Fire Department and Denver Health arrived on the scene to provide medical assistance before transporting him to Denver Health Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
In the days following the shooting, the Denver Police Department investigated the incident as a homicide. Initially, no suspect description was released to the public, and authorities appealed for any information that could lead to an arrest. Their investigation led them to identify 53-year-old Gabriel Moak as the suspect.
Less than ten days after the fatal shooting, the Denver District Attorney's Office announced that Gabriel Moak had been charged with one count of murder in the first degree in connection with Joseph Heck's death. Moak was taken into custody, and court proceedings against him were initiated.
