In the fall of 2019, the life of a promising 14-year-old male, Treaujalaune Roce Lornes, was tragically cut short in Denver, Colorado. Known to his loved ones as "Trey," he was a freshman at George Washington High School with a passion for basketball and a dream of one day playing professionally to provide for his family. His sister described him as a sweet and gentle boy.
On the afternoon of September 18, 2019, a dispute, reportedly over a pair of sneakers, began between Trey and a friend at a local car wash.
The argument escalated and moved to a house in the 1700 block of South Monaco Parkway, not far from Cook Park. It was inside this residence that the disagreement reached a fatal conclusion. Treaujalaune was shot on the stairs of the home. He was rushed to a nearby hospital but ultimately succumbed to his injuries later that night, leaving his family devastated and searching for answers. The initial shock was compounded by the nature of the dispute, with his sister expressing disbelief that a disagreement over shoes could lead to such a senseless act of violence.
In the days following the shooting, the Denver Police Department launched an investigation. Their efforts quickly led them to identify another juvenile male, a friend of Treaujalaune's, as the primary suspect. According to reports, the suspect initially attempted to mislead investigators about what had transpired. However, on the morning of Friday, September 20, 2019, the juvenile suspect was taken into custody.
Due to his status as a minor, the suspect's identity was not publicly released. He was arrested on suspicion of several charges, including manslaughter, second-degree assault, three counts of felony menacing, attempting to influence a public official, and juvenile in possession of a handgun. The case was then handed over to the Denver District Attorney's Office to determine the final charges. In the wake of this tragedy, the community came together to remember Trey, holding a candlelight vigil in his honor. His family, grappling with their profound loss, sought support to cover funeral expenses and called for justice for their beloved son and brother.
