Dennis “Unity” Roy Lozoya was a loving, kind, and loyal man who enjoyed music, watching movies, traveling, and spending time with his family. A 38-year-old Hispanic man, he was born and raised in Denver and was a beloved son, brother, grandson, and uncle who is deeply missed by all who knew him. His life was cut short on Mother's Day, May 10, 2020.
That Sunday evening, an argument at a family gathering inside a home in Denver's Green Valley Ranch neighborhood escalated into a fatal
shooting. The dispute began in the basement of the residence, located in the 5400 block of North Odessa Street, between Lozoya and his stepson, 20-year-old Edward Sandoval. The confrontation moved upstairs, where both men were reportedly armed, Lozoya with a handgun and Sandoval with a rifle. As the situation intensified, at least two witnesses fled the house while another locked themselves in a bathroom for safety.
Moments later, a volley of 14 to 16 gunshots rang out, an event captured on a neighbor's doorbell camera. A witness then saw Sandoval leave the house carrying the rifle and drive away. Inside, Dennis Lozoya was found suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was rushed to a local hospital, but he did not survive his injuries. The coroner later confirmed his death was a homicide caused by multiple gunshot wounds.
The day after the shooting, Edward Sandoval turned himself in to the Denver Police Department. He was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder, and the Denver District Attorney's Office later filed a formal charge against him for one count of murder in the first degree.
Sandoval's case proceeded to trial, where a jury ultimately convicted him of the lesser charge of second-degree murder for the death of Dennis Lozoya. He was subsequently sentenced to 40 years in prison. However, the conviction was later appealed.
In November 2025, the Colorado Court of Appeals reversed Sandoval's conviction and remanded the case for a new trial. The appellate court ruled that Sandoval's constitutional right to a public trial had been violated when the trial judge closed the courtroom to spectators during jury selection due to space limitations. As of November 2025, the case has been sent back to the lower court for a new trial.
