In the spring of 2020, a violent altercation in a Denver neighborhood tragically cut short the life of 36-year-old Jose Contreras. On the evening of April 11th, an argument escalated into a shootout in the 1600 block of South Tennyson Street. During the exchange of gunfire, Contreras sustained a fatal gunshot wound. Another individual, 15-year-old Fabian Medina, was also killed in the incident, succumbing to multiple gunshot wounds. A third male was injured but survived.
The Denver Office of the Medical Examiner later classified both Contreras' and Medina's deaths as homicides.
Following the shooting, which erupted just before 8 p.m., Contreras was transported by others to a nearby residence in an attempt to get him to a hospital. Unfortunately, he died in the back seat of the car. Witnesses at the scene described seeing a man fire approximately 10 shots before fleeing in a white sedan. The Denver Police Department immediately launched an investigation into the double homicide, seeking information from the public to help identify those responsible for the deadly violence that had shattered the evening.
In the course of their investigation, authorities identified a person of interest. Guadalupe Villanueva, a 19-year-old from Denver, was arrested and held for investigation of First Degree Murder. However, he was released two days later without formal charges being filed in connection with the deaths of Contreras and Medina. Another individual, 18-year-old Amaya Wild, was also taken into custody and faced felony counts of accessory to a crime. Despite these arrests, the case surrounding the deaths of Jose Contreras and Fabian Medina remains officially unsolved, leaving a lingering sense of loss and unanswered questions for their families and the community.
