On a tragic afternoon in Colorado Springs, the life of Nicholas Alan Anderson, a 31-year-old White/Caucasian male, was cut short. On October 7, 2019, at a car wash on South Nevada Avenue, an altercation led to his fatal shooting. Known as Nikko Alan to his friends and family, Nicholas was a loving husband, a father to four children with another on the way, and a talented tattoo artist.
The incident unfolded when Nicholas, driving a black Audi with his wife and stepdaughter inside, pulled
into the Water Works Car Wash. An argument escalated, leading to a physical confrontation between Nicholas and 56-year-old John Stokes. During the struggle inside Stokes' SUV, a gunshot was fired. As Nicholas exited the vehicle, Stokes reportedly shot him again, and then stood over him, firing several more times.
After the shooting, Stokes lingered at the scene for nearly ten minutes, asking bystanders if they had witnessed the event before driving away. His attempt to flee was short-lived. He collided with an unmarked police car, causing it to roll onto its side, though the sergeant inside was not injured. Stokes then changed direction, drove back toward the scene, and surrendered to the authorities.
Law enforcement found Nicholas's body in an alley behind the car wash. John Stokes was arrested and subsequently charged with first-degree murder. During a police interview, Stokes reportedly stated that Anderson had “crossed the line and paid the price,” referring to himself as the “jury.” The community mourned the loss of Nicholas, remembering him as a kind-hearted and generous man who was deeply devoted to his family.
