In the late hours of a Thursday night in Denver, Colorado, a story of sisterly protection ended in tragedy. Just days before her thirtieth birthday, 29-year-old Camille Harrell was at the Sage and Sand Motel on East Colfax, where she and her twin sister, Carmen, were temporarily staying. On the evening of June 25, 2015, a violent confrontation erupted when two acquaintances, Brandon Foote, 29, and Marita Curry-Swanson, 35, broke into the sisters' motel room and began assaulting Carmen.
Fiercely protective of her family, Camille rushed to her sister's defense. In an attempt to de-escalate the assault, she fired warning shots. The situation, however, took a fatal turn. Foote, armed with his own gun, turned on Camille. He shot her once inside the room before she fled into a nearby alleyway. Foote pursued her, and after a brief, chilling exchange, he shot her multiple times. Camille Harrell was later found in the alley and transported to a local hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
In the aftermath of the deadly shooting, the two individuals responsible were brought into custody. Marita Curry-Swanson turned herself in to the authorities. Brandon Foote was arrested shortly after the incident and faced several charges, including first-degree murder. Family and friends remembered Camille as a 'gentle giant' with a tough exterior but a kind and soft heart, a woman whose final act was one of love and protection for her twin sister.
The legal process culminated in Brandon Foote being found guilty of first-degree murder after deliberation, first-degree felony murder, and first-degree burglary. In June 2016, he was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Camille Harrell. Curry-Swanson was also charged with first-degree felony murder and first-degree burglary for her role in the events that led to Camille's untimely death.
