In the quiet city of Cañon City, Colorado, the life of 54-year-old David Michael Draper, a man known for his kind heart and contagious laugh, came to an abrupt and violent end on February 11, 2019. A longtime resident of the area, Draper was a man who found solace in the simple things, whether it was playing his guitar, working with his hands, or spending time by the Arkansas River, a place many considered his second home.
He had a creative spirit, even teaching himself to craft custom canes from the wood he collected while working as a logger.
The circumstances of his death unfolded from a confrontation that tragically escalated. On that fateful day, a dispute occurred which resulted in Draper sustaining a fatal gunshot wound. The Cañon City Police Department immediately launched an investigation into the shooting. Early indications from the authorities suggested that the incident was being examined as a case of self-defense.
As the investigation progressed, the focus remained on the claim of self-defense. The individual who fired the shot was identified, but no immediate arrest was made, signaling that the evidence preliminarily supported the self-defense narrative. The case was eventually handed over to the Fremont County District Attorney's Office for a final review. After a thorough examination of the evidence and the circumstances surrounding the altercation, the District Attorney's Office concluded that the shooting was indeed an act of self-defense. Consequently, no charges were filed against the individual responsible for David Draper's death, and no arrests were made in connection with the incident. The legal proceedings concluded with the official ruling of justifiable homicide, closing a painful chapter for those who knew and loved the man affectionately called 'Mikey Dave.'
