In the late afternoon of August 21, 2020, a disturbance in Greeley, Colorado, escalated into a violent encounter that resulted in the death of 19-year-old Deionte Lashay Dior Johnson-Smith. Reports from the Greeley Police Department indicate that at approximately 5:15 p.m., officers were dispatched to the 700 block of 12th Street following a call of shots fired. Upon their arrival, they discovered two men with gunshot wounds.
One of the victims, 20-year-old Elijah Joziah Duran of Aurora, was pronounced dead at the scene. Johnson-Smith, also from Aurora, was found with serious injuries and immediately transported to a local hospital for emergency surgery. Despite life-saving efforts, Deionte Lashay Dior Johnson-Smith succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead the following morning.
The investigation into the double homicide was conducted by the Greeley Police Department in conjunction with the Weld County District Attorney's Office. Detectives interviewed several witnesses and others involved in the initial disturbance to piece together the events that led to the shooting. It was determined that it was unknown if all parties involved had known each other prior to the incident.
Ultimately, after a thorough review of the evidence, authorities announced in October 2020 that no criminal charges would be filed against the shooter. The investigation concluded that the shooter had an affirmative defense of self-defense. The Weld County District Attorney's Office stated that a person is permitted to use deadly force if they have a reasonable belief that they are in danger of death or great bodily injury and that lesser force would be inadequate. Consequently, no arrests were made, and no suspects were publicly named in connection with the deaths of Deionte Lashay Dior Johnson-Smith and Elijah Joziah Duran.
