In the early morning hours of September 28, 2018, in Denver, Colorado, 28-year-old Lucardio Kroener was working as a security guard in the bustling Lower Downtown area. He was a father to a young daughter and was known for his dedication to his work, having previously been employed at Dorchester Social nightclub and, at the time of his death, for Larimer Square security.
Tragedy struck at approximately 1:53 a.m.
when Denver police officers responded to a shooting near 15th and Market Streets. As law enforcement was arriving at the scene, Kroener confronted a possible suspect from that initial shooting near 14th and Market Streets. A physical altercation ensued between Kroener and the individual, during which the suspect fatally shot the security guard. Kroener was pronounced dead at the scene from a gunshot wound. Friends and family remembered him as a hero who was dedicated to keeping people safe.
In the wake of the shooting, the Denver Police Department launched an investigation and released surveillance images of the man they believed to be responsible for Kroener's death. The suspect was described as an African-American male, between 25 and 34 years old, with a stocky build, braided hair, and facial hair, who was wearing a dark-colored hoodie at the time. He was seen fleeing the area on foot with an associate.
Following a nearly three-month-long investigation that was aided by tips from the public, police identified Harrison Hall, then 31 years old, as the primary suspect. On December 12, 2018, Hall was arrested in Louisiana on an unrelated out-of-state warrant. He was subsequently charged with first-degree murder in connection with the death of Lucardio Kroener. In a testament to his bravery, Kroener was posthumously awarded the 'Bill Daniels Neighborhood Hero Award,' with his family accepting the honor on his behalf. The award recognized his courage in assisting police during two separate dangerous incidents in September, the second of which tragically cost him his life.
