In the early hours of Christmas morning in 2019, a dispute between friends in Aurora, Colorado, escalated into a tragedy that would end one life and irrevocably alter another. Aarion Earle Derritt, a 39-year-old Black/African American man, was fatally shot inside a residence on East Kansas Place. The incident, which occurred around 2:15 a.m., cast a dark shadow over the holiday. Officers from the Aurora Police Department responded to the scene to find Derritt suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. He was pronounced deceased at the location.
The investigation into the homicide quickly identified a suspect: Curtis Davis-Barnes, a man described as a family friend of the victim. The conflict reportedly arose after Davis-Barnes lost money to Derritt in a game. This disagreement led to a violent confrontation that culminated in the fatal shooting. In the days following the incident, the Aurora Police Department sought the public's help in locating Davis-Barnes, who was considered armed and dangerous.
The search for the suspect concluded with the arrest of Curtis Davis-Barnes. He was taken into custody and charged with first-degree murder in connection with Derritt's death. The legal proceedings that followed brought the case to a definitive close. On February 24, 2022, a jury found Davis-Barnes guilty of first-degree murder and other related charges. He was subsequently sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, ensuring he would be held accountable for the events of that tragic Christmas morning.
