On the evening of January 5, 2018, 35-year-old Jose Herrera-Cabral was shot and killed outside the New Welcome Inn bar located at 3759 Chestnut Place in Denver's Five Points neighborhood. The shooting, which occurred at approximately 7:57 p.m., also claimed the life of another man, 43-year-old Guillermo Ornelas. Both men sustained multiple gunshot wounds, according to the Denver Office of the Medical Examiner.
Reports from the time suggest that Herrera-Cabral and Ornelas had been inside
the bar, possibly playing pool, before the fatal incident unfolded in the parking lot. Law enforcement officials arriving at the scene found the two men deceased. In the immediate aftermath, Denver police appealed to the public for assistance in solving the double homicide, but did not release any information about a possible motive or potential suspects. A reward of up to $2,000 was offered for information leading to an arrest.
Despite the ongoing investigation, no arrests have been publicly announced in the years following the killings. As of early 2020, the case remained unsolved, with Denver police continuing to seek information from the community regarding the person or persons responsible for the deaths of Jose Herrera-Cabral and Guillermo Ornelas. While one report mentioned the possibility of 'gang overtones' in connection with the incident, authorities did not confirm this or provide specific details about any potential suspects. The case continues to be an open investigation.
