On a cold evening in Denver, Colorado, the High Rise Bar on West Colfax Avenue became the scene of a tragedy that would linger for decades. It was January 3, 1978, when 31-year-old Steven Johns, a white male, was inside the establishment. The night took a violent turn when Johns was shot. He was rushed to a local hospital, but the severity of his injuries proved to be fatal, and he was pronounced dead.
The immediate aftermath of the shooting left more questions than answers.
The Denver Police Department launched an investigation into the homicide, but the trail to find the person or people responsible quickly grew cold. Despite their efforts, investigators were unable to identify any suspects in the killing of Steven Johns. No arrests were ever made in connection with the case, leaving a void in the pursuit of justice.
Years turned into decades, and the case of Steven Johns' murder remains an unsolved chapter in the city's history. The circumstances surrounding the shooting and the motive behind it are still unknown. The Denver Police Department continues to classify it as a cold case, a silent testament to a life cut short and a crime that has gone unpunished. The identity of the individual who fired the fatal shot inside the High Rise Bar that winter night remains a mystery.
