On a summer evening in Denver, Colorado, what began as a verbal disagreement outside a barbershop tragically escalated, ending the life of 21-year-old Ivan Beaza-Garcia. It was Saturday, June 7, 2003, when Beaza-Garcia, a Hispanic male, exited the barbershop located in the Far East Side Asian Center near the intersection of West Alameda Avenue and Federal Boulevard.
An argument erupted between him and another individual, later identified as Juan Carballo Jr.
The verbal altercation quickly turned fatal when Carballo Jr. produced a handgun and shot Beaza-Garcia. After the shooting, the suspect, who is also known by the nickname 'Bananas,' fled the scene in a sport utility vehicle. Ivan B. Garcia, who was a beloved son, a father to his daughter Ivana, and a brother to Yesenia, Clay, and Marcos, died from the gunshot wounds. His family mourned their loss, with services held at Our Lady of Guadalupe, and he was later interred in Andrews, Texas.
In the aftermath of the shooting, the Denver Police Department launched a homicide investigation. A warrant for the arrest of Juan Carballo Jr. was issued for the charge of First Degree Murder. Described as being 5'7' and 210 lbs with tattoos on his arms, shoulders, and chest, Carballo is considered to be a violent and dangerous offender with prior weapon and drug offenses. Despite law enforcement's efforts, the suspect has remained at large. Investigators believe that Carballo fled to Mexico following the incident. The case remains an unsolved cold case, and the Denver Police Department continues to seek information from the public regarding the whereabouts of Juan Carballo Jr. to bring him to justice.
