In a tragic turn of events during a gathering to watch a Denver Broncos game, 67-year-old Jose Diaz-Luevano was shot and killed on Sunday, January 12, 2014. The incident took place at a home near the intersection of 36th and Lafayette in Denver. Diaz-Luevano, a male, was a father and grandfather, remembered fondly by his extensive family.
On that Sunday afternoon, friends and family had gathered to enjoy the football game.
A man identified as 33-year-old Clay Baeza-Garcia was also present at the party. Reports suggest that Diaz-Luevano had generously prepared some food for Baeza-Garcia. However, the friendly atmosphere soured when a discussion between Baeza-Garcia and others escalated. In the heat of the moment, Baeza-Garcia allegedly brandished a firearm.
Accounts from witnesses indicate that Diaz-Luevano's son, Alejandro, engaged in a struggle with Baeza-Garcia over the weapon. During this struggle, the gun discharged, and Jose Diaz-Luevano was struck by a bullet in the chest. He succumbed to the gunshot wound a short time later. In the immediate aftermath, other attendees at the party acted quickly to prevent Baeza-Garcia from leaving the scene until police arrived.
Law enforcement subsequently took Clay Baeza-Garcia into custody. He was arrested on suspicion of first-degree murder. While the initial investigation suggested that Baeza-Garcia and Diaz-Luevano did not know each other prior to the party, the exact circumstances that led to the fatal confrontation remain a subject of the ongoing legal process. The sudden act of violence left a family grieving and a community in shock over a life lost during what should have been a festive occasion.
