In a tragic and senseless act, 22-year-old Zachary Espinosa Bivens, a male, lost his life in Westminster, Colorado. The fatal incident occurred on February 22, 2018, at the Edgewood Apartments located at 6980 Stuart Street. What began as a gathering of friends took a dark turn, culminating in a deadly game of Russian roulette.
The person responsible for the shooting was identified as Marquis Brooks, who was 22 years old at the time. According to prosecutors, Brooks had been drinking and using cocaine and Xanax throughout the evening. Witnesses reported that Brooks was talking about suicide before he produced a gun. He then unloaded all but one bullet from the firearm. In a reckless display, Brooks first pointed the gun at his own head and pulled the trigger, but the chamber was empty. He then turned the weapon on his friend, Zachary Espinosa-Bivens, and fired the fatal shot.
Following the shooting, Brooks fled the scene without rendering aid to his dying friend. He was later apprehended by law enforcement. Brooks pleaded guilty to several charges, including manslaughter, possession of a controlled substance, and driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Despite a request for probation from his defense, the Adams County District Judge sentenced Marquis Brooks to five years in prison for his role in the death of Zachary Espinosa Bivens.
