Fatal shooting likely retaliatory, gang expert says

Tillie Fong, Rocky Mountain News

Published February 10, 2007 at midnight

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A deadly shooting in Denver this week was probably payback for an earlier shooting involving gang members, a gang expert said.

On Jan. 24, a 14-year-old was shot in the leg in the 4900 block of Milwaukee Street and four others were fired upon.

"This (fatal shooting Thursday) was something like retaliation for the (Jan. 24) shooting at Milwaukee and 49th (Avenue)," said Leon Kelly, director of the Open Door Youth Gang Alternatives program.

A suspect, a juvenile male, was arrested Wednesday in connection with the Jan. 24 shooting.

Thursday's attack occurred just three blocks south of where the victim used to live.

About 9 p.m. Thursday, the victim, who was a passenger in a pickup truck, was shot in the area of Bruce Randolph Avenue and Williams Street. Several occupants were in the pickup, but only one was shot.

The gunman was believed to have been in a dark-colored sport utility vehicle, possibly a Toyota or an Isuzu Rodeo.

On Friday, Denver police would confirm only that the victim was a 19-year-old male. A family member and a neighbor identified him as Gilbert Garcia.

Jesus Granillo, who works at the neighborhood Golden Gate Market, said that Garcia was attending college.

"He just started college," Granillo said. "He was pretty friendly. He was a good guy."

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