In the early morning hours of April 24, 2020, a dispute between two men in a parking lot in northeast Denver escalated into a fatal encounter. Arthur Jerome Robinson Jr., a 36-year-old Black man, was shot and killed. Known affectionately as 'Pugs' to his loved ones, he was a father who was deeply devoted to his children. Friends and family remember him as having a big personality, someone who was funny and the 'life of the party.'
He had built a career in community corrections, a field where he felt a calling to help people.
The incident that led to Arthur Robinson's death began as an argument in a parking lot near an AutoZone at Green Valley Ranch Boulevard and Chambers Road. Witnesses reported seeing two men arguing before one, later identified as Arthur Robinson, turned to run. The other man pursued him and fired a single shot, striking Arthur in the back. The gunman then fled the scene in a vehicle. Arthur Robinson was rushed to a nearby hospital, but the gunshot wound, which had damaged his heart and a lung, proved to be fatal.
The investigation by the Denver Police Department quickly led to a suspect. Samuel J.P. Robinson, who was 51 at the time, was arrested later the same day at his home, which was located about a half-mile from the scene of the shooting. He was subsequently charged with first-degree murder and possession of a weapon by a previous offender. Investigators were able to identify Samuel Robinson after locating the vehicle used to flee the scene and interviewing its registered owner. A witness also picked Samuel Robinson out of a photo lineup.
In the aftermath of the shooting, Samuel Robinson was convicted of second-degree murder. During the trial, his defense argued that the shooting was accidental, claiming he slipped on wet ground. However, the jury found him guilty. The conviction was later upheld by a Colorado appeals court.
