On the first day of the new year, January 1, 2014, the life of 47-year-old Randy Jay Cook was cut short in Grand Junction, Colorado. A single gunshot wound ended the life of the male, a local businessman and realtor known for his love of family and outdoor pursuits like skiing and boating.
The incident that led to Cook's death unfolded in the Orchard Mesa area of the city.
Mesa County Sheriff's deputies responded to a call shortly after midnight and found Cook with a gunshot wound to the chest. He was a White / Caucasian man, born and raised in Grand Junction where he had attended Central High School and become a father to three children. In his youth, he was a talented motocross racer, once ranked tenth in the state.
Investigations into the shooting determined that Randy Cook was among a group of individuals who had forcibly entered the home of Joe Hoskins. It was inside this residence that Hoskins shot Cook. The Mesa County Coroner's Office subsequently ruled Cook's death a homicide. However, after a thorough review of the events, the District Attorney announced that no criminal charges would be filed against Hoskins.
The decision not to pursue legal action was based on Colorado's 'Make My Day' law. This statute allows a homeowner to use deadly force against an intruder if they have a reasonable belief that a crime is being or will be committed. Video surveillance from the scene reportedly confirmed that Cook and others had made an unlawful entry into Hoskins' home. Consequently, Hoskins was not arrested, and the case was closed without any suspects being sought by law enforcement. The District Attorney expressed that while the situation was a tragedy, the state's criminal justice system did not have a way to address it further under the circumstances.
