In the early morning hours of February 22, 2019, David Rosenthal, a 58-year-old male, was shot and killed in a violent carjacking in Denver, Colorado. The incident occurred in the 1500 block of Perry Street. Rosenthal, who was working as an Uber driver at the time, was shot multiple times before the assailants stole his black Cadillac.
The senseless act of violence that cut David Rosenthal's life short was part of a multi-state crime spree allegedly perpetrated by Matthew Fanelli, then
30, and Jose Lopez-Jovel. The crime spree reportedly began in Colorado Springs before the suspects traveled to Denver. After the fatal carjacking, the suspects were accused of committing additional crimes, including a robbery at a convenience store in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and a bank robbery near Park City, Utah, using Rosenthal's stolen vehicle.
The pursuit of the suspects came to an end in Oregon, where they were arrested. Authorities in Oregon engaged in a pursuit with the stolen Cadillac, during which the driver, allegedly Fanelli, fired at them. After crashing the vehicle, Fanelli reportedly attempted another carjacking, shooting a man and assaulting a woman in the process. He was subsequently taken into custody. Fanelli was later extradited to Denver to face charges of first-degree murder in connection with David Rosenthal's death.
Friends and family remembered David Rosenthal as a kind and amazing person who was a loving father, son, husband, and brother. He was described as someone who loved everyone and would go out of his way to help anyone in need. His death was a devastating loss to his family and the community, a tragic end to a life taken during a random act of violence.
