On the evening of December 19, 2003, Michael Leighton, a 24-year-old white male, was at a car wash in the 3400 block of West Colfax Avenue in Denver. An unknown man in a leather jacket approached him, leading to an altercation. During the confrontation, the suspect shot Leighton and then fled the scene. Leighton was rushed to Denver Health Medical Center, where he succumbed to his injuries.
The motive for the attack remains unclear, with authorities considering the possibility of an attempted robbery or carjacking.
The case remains unsolved, and the suspect has not been identified. The Denver Police Department continues to seek information from the public regarding the homicide.
Michael Leighton was a beloved junior varsity football coach at Smoky Hill High School and a teacher at the Estate I-Team, an alternative program for 11th and 12th-grade at-risk students. His death deeply affected his students, who remembered him as a kind and inspiring figure with a constant smile. Students and colleagues described the 6-foot-4, 270-pound teacher as a gentle and giving person who had a significant positive impact on their lives. Originally from Ohio, Leighton was a former star lineman in high school and a starting lineman at the University of Findlay. His family and the community mourned the tragic loss of a man who was dedicated to helping young people.
