In the late hours of August 12, 2020, a meeting between two young men in Westminster, Colorado, took a fatal turn, ending the life of 20-year-old Tanner Andre Banderet. That evening, Banderet, a Caucasian male, was picked up from an apartment complex by Christopher John Matthews, also 20 years old, for what was supposed to be a cocaine transaction. The two drove in Matthews' black Cadillac, but the drug deal would never be completed.
As they drove near 116th Avenue and Pecos Street, the situation escalated violently. Matthews retrieved a Glock handgun from the center console and fired a single shot, striking Banderet behind his left ear. The bullet hit his carotid artery, and as Banderet lay dying in the passenger seat, Matthews covered his head with a shirt. Instead of seeking help, Matthews drove to a field in the 3200 block of West 84th Avenue, where he abandoned Banderet's body. Before leaving, he emptied Banderet's pockets, taking cash, cocaine, and his identification.
A passerby discovered Tanner Banderet's body around 6:40 p.m. the following day, August 13, 2020, and alerted the Westminster Police Department. Officers arrived to find Banderet with obvious trauma, and an autopsy later confirmed he had died from the gunshot wound. Investigators began a meticulous process of piecing together Banderet's last hours, delving into cell phone records and interviewing his associates. They discovered that his last known location was near where the fatal shot was fired and learned of his involvement in drug dealings.
The investigation soon pointed toward Christopher John Matthews as the primary suspect. Tire tracks from his Cadillac matched those found near where Banderet's body was discovered. On September 4, 2020, Matthews was taken into custody. He was initially charged with first-degree murder after deliberation, first-degree felony murder, and aggravated robbery. During his trial in August 2022, Matthews claimed self-defense, a story prosecutors successfully refuted. An Adams County jury ultimately convicted him of second-degree murder. On January 13, 2023, Christopher John Matthews was sentenced to 35 years in the Department of Corrections for his role in the death of Tanner Banderet.
