Letter implicates Bronco’s killer

Inmate writes he fired shots in Williams' slaying

By Sara Burnett, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Originally published 12:05 a.m., May 30, 2008
Updated 02:41 p.m., May 30, 2008

Ellen Jaskol / The Rocky/2007

Detectives Tim Kelley, left, and Bryan Gordon place evidence markers by the bullet holes on the Hummer limousine in which Darrent Williams was riding early on the morning of Jan. 1, 2007.

Darrent Williams

CORRECTION: A previous version of this story should have said that police found the SUV used in the shooting abandoned in the Green Valley Ranch subdivision. This error was corrected.

The Rocky Mountain News has obtained a copy of a letter believed to be signed by a 26-year-old gang member that says he fired the shots that killed Denver Broncos player Darrent Williams.

The letter is the first piece of evidence known publicly to link a triggerman to the New Year's Day 2007 shooting, the city's highest profile unsolved murder.

It carries the signature "Willie D. Clark."

Clark was arrested on a parole violation days after the slaying and is in jail on pending drug charges.

In the letter, Clark says he is worried someone who saw him shoot "D-Will" - a nickname for Williams - will start talking to police about the killing.

"(The person) seen me with the gun and shoot out the whip," the letter states.

"Whip" is slang for a car. Police have said the shots that killed Williams were fired from a Chevy Tahoe shortly after Williams and a group of friends left a Denver nightclub.

The letter was intercepted in November by a 34-year-old Denver- area man who was being held with Clark at the Federal Detention Center in Littleton. The man has since been released.

He provided the letter to the Rocky, he said, because he believed it was the right thing to do and he wanted to bring Williams' family peace.

He also has talked to prosecutors and contacted the Broncos about a $100,000 reward offered by the team.

The Rocky is not identifying the source because he could be in danger for providing information about Clark and his gang, which authorities have said may be responsible for up to 12 unsolved killings, including the murder of a witness.

At the newspaper's urging, the source this month turned over a copy of the letter to law enforcement, which conducted a handwriting analysis.

Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey declined to comment on the letter or the investigation Thursday. But a law enforcement source said the writing in the letter matched a handwriting sample police obtained from Clark.

'Same writer, period'

Alaurice Tafoya-Modi, an attorney for Clark, said Thursday morning she couldn't comment without seeing a copy of the letter. After a copy was faxed to her office, she could not be reached and did not return a phone message.

Clark has been previously identified as a suspect in the killing, though no one has been charged.

Last year Clark insisted in a letter to the Rocky that he didn't kill Williams and didn't know who did.

"I was not involved or present," he wrote.

An independent handwriting expert hired by the Rocky confirmed that the writing in the letter implicating Clark matches the letters Clark previously sent to the newspaper and a letter he mailed this month to U.S. District Judge Wiley Y. Daniel.

"I think it's all the same writer, period," said Linda Collins James, a document examiner based in Plano, Texas.

James, who has testified in civil and criminal court and is certified by the National Association of Document Examiners, compared the letter to 14 pages of letters and writing on seven envelopes received from Clark. Most of the letters were in block-letter print. Two were in cursive.

There were so many similarities between the letter provided by the source and those written in block-letter print, it would take "more than several hours to list them all," James said.

She also said there were similarities in the cursive.

James also examined handwriting from the source and determined that he did not write the letter implicating Clark.

Williams, a 2005 second-round draft pick from Oklahoma State, was the Broncos' starting right cornerback and leading punt returner in his second season. In his final season, he made four interceptions, second on the team to All-Pro cornerback Champ Bailey.

His homicide received national media attention and quickly became the city's most notorious killing. For more than a week after he died the murder site was a shrine, with fans leaving flowers and notes in memory of the popular player.

The killing also prompted calls for a crackdown on gang activity. Yet, at least one grand jury convened to consider the case has expired with no indictments.

Retaliation for disrespect

Williams rented a Hummer limousine to celebrate New Year's Eve 2007 with friends who were in town from Texas. They went to Club Safari, a nightclub on Broadway, to attend a birthday party for Denver Nuggets player Kenyon Martin.

They were joined by Broncos players Javon Walker and Brandon Marshall, as well as Marshall's cousin. It was just hours after the team's season-ending loss.

Also at the club that night were Clark and other members of his gang, law enforcement sources have said.

Walker told HBO's Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel that a disagreement broke out between Marshall and his cousin and at least two other men.

The source who provided the letter to the Rocky said Clark told him that the men were talking trash - the athletes and their friends bragging that they had the money to rent out a bar, the gang members giving the players a hard time about losing to the lowly San Francisco 49ers.

At some point, someone in the crowd that included Broncos players said "f--- you" to the gang members, according to the account the source said he heard from Clark.

"And then you know of course, the gang is not going to be disrespected by no means and that's a disrespect," the source said.

Williams, Walker and others left the club around 2 a.m. in the Hummer limo. As they drove near 11th Avenue and Speer Boulevard, someone fired at least a dozen shots from a white Chevy Tahoe, police said.

One of the shots hit Williams, 24, in the neck, killing him at the scene. Two other passengers in the Hummer were shot but survived.

The source said Clark told him he "dumped on" the Hummer - or shot at it - as retaliation.

Clark and the other men who were in the SUV then hid out for a few days at a girlfriend's house, the source said Clark told him.

Three days later, police found the Tahoe abandoned and crudely spray-painted black in the Montbello neighborhood of Denver.

Authorities said the vehicle was registered to Brian Hicks, who police say is the leader of the gang to which Clark belongs.

The source who provided the Rocky with the Clark letter said it was written to Hicks, who was being held in a different section of the Federal Detention Center, also on drug charges.

Befriended by gang

The source described himself as a former gang member.

His criminal history, which begins when he was a juvenile, includes more than two dozen arrests for offenses such as selling drugs, possession of a weapon by a previous offender and failure to appear in court.

In the mid-1990s he was sentenced to 10 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections for selling cocaine and felony menacing.

His most recent stint in the Federal Detention Center also was for drugs.

The source said that in the detention center, gang members housed in separate wings would sometimes communicate by writing letters and leaving them in the law library, which inmates in all wings may access.

He said he made copies of some of the letters he was helping transfer through the library and kept them.

He also said that while in the FDC, he was befriended by Hicks and Clark, who talked to him about the Williams shooting and other murders.

The source contacted the Rocky in early 2008, after he was released, asking to meet with a reporter. At the time, he did not mention the Darrent Williams murder.

In April, the source said he had information about the killing. In a meeting, he said he had intercepted and copied a letter that seemed to implicate Clark.

He later gave the Rocky a copy of the document, which he said Clark wrote to Hicks because Hicks was starting to worry that Clark might talk to police.

In the letter, Clark wrote that Hicks, whom he refers to as "Fam," for family, has "bad judgement (sic) of character."

He also said he was worried someone else "might say something stupid talk to law enforcements about the death of D-Will."

"Since I been in jail they have not produced any real, physical solid evidence against me," he wrote.

He then stated that a woman who prosecutors believe was a girlfriend "got that."

The letter is signed "Well respected, Willie D. Clark."

At the bottom are written the words "Death by Dishonor" - a phrase that means people who snitch will be killed.

The source said that during conversations with Clark and Hicks, he learned information about other murders, including who killed Kalonniann Clark. She was shot in December 2006 - a week before she was scheduled to testify against Hicks in an earlier attempt on her life.

The source also was told who might have the gun used in the Williams murder, he said.

The Rocky is not publishing that information because he could not provide corroborating evidence.

Calls to prosecutors

After contacting the Rocky, the source agreed to share his information with prosecutors.

At the source's request, Rocky editor John Temple contacted Morrissey, the Denver district attorney, on April 24 to let him know the newspaper had a source with information that could be significant to the Williams case.

The district attorney's office contacted the source about two weeks later and set up a meeting with him.

The source, accompanied by his lawyer, has since met twice with state and federal prosecutors.

At their most recent meeting Tuesday afternoon, the district attorney's office agreed to pay to relocate the source and to cover one month's rent in a new location, the source said.

But on Thursday, he said he was unwilling to cooperate or testify at trial because he believes the protection being offered is inadequate given the risk he is taking.

He said he needs more money to relocate family and to have time to find a job, and said more witnesses might come forward if the state did more for them.

"It's not enough," he said. "My family's life is worth more than that. My life is worth more."

The source said he hopes he will receive a portion of the reward offered by the Broncos, or that the organization will help him financially because the state's offer is not enough.

Prior to approaching the Rocky, he said, he contacted the head of security for the team and attempted to reach Williams' mother and Walker. Those attempts were unsuccessful.

The source said that in addition to the reward he had several reasons for coming forward.

As a believer in God, he thinks what happened to Williams was wrong and "uncalled for." He also said he wants to make up for his own wrong acts.

"I've done my share of wrong in my life," he said, adding that he never killed anyone. "In changing my life I weighed this decision and it is the appropriate thing to do."

He said that sharing the information could get him killed, but he is prepared for the consequences.

burnetts@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5343

Key events in Darrent Williams murder case

* Jan. 1, 2007: Darrent Williams is shot and killed while riding in a Hummer limousine after leaving a Denver nightclub.

* Jan. 4: The SUV police believe was used in the drive-by shooting is found abandoned and spray-painted in the Green Valley Ranch subdivision. Police say it's registered to gang leader Brian Hicks, who is in jail.

* Jan. 5: Willie D. Clark is arrested on a parole violation. At a press conference, police say they want to talk to him about the murder.

* Jan. 10: The Broncos offer a $100,000 reward for information leading to an arrest or charges.

* March 28: The Denver district attorney's office acknowledges a grand jury is hearing evidence in the Williams case, as well as other murders in which gang members are suspected.

* April 26: Federal authorities announce indictments against more than 70 gang members accused of selling drugs. Prosecutors say they hope the charges will motivate some of the gang members to start talking about the unsolved murders.

* July 23: Clark is added to the federal drug indictment. Authorities say they believe everyone responsible for the Williams murder is in jail, though no one is charged.

* Early 2008: A source approaches the Rocky Mountain News and says he has information that could implicate Clark in the Williams shooting.

* April 2008: The source provides the Rocky with a copy of a letter he says was written by Clark and agrees to meet with prosecutors.

* May 2008: The source meets twice with prosecutors, who analyze the handwriting and say it comes back as a preliminary match.

• May 30, 2008

  6 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  samsmargolis writes:

  Gee, Sara. I see that the RMN is trying to paint themselves as heroes in this whole disclosure-of-the-notes-thing (and to give credit where due, your paper at least seemed to do the right thing initially by contacting prosecutors), but can you explain for the readers in what rational world printing the letters while a grand jury is apparently still seated makes sense? I'd like to see a note in the events chronology that says the prosecutors thought your publicizing the letters would be incredibly helpful to the investigation into this shooting. If I'm missing something here, I'm ready to stand corrected. Fire up the rationale from Temple, Littwin, Stein or any of the other RMN apologists. Otherwise, this seems to be pretty careless, unethical and selfish journalism about a high-profile case with a story that could pretty easily have waited until what looks to be an active investigation process was finished. That seem about right, Sara?

• May 30, 2008

  7:49 a.m.

  becket writes:

  (This comment was removed by the site staff.)

• May 30, 2008

  8:07 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  T1anda writes:

  Becket can you substantiate your claim?? I loved watching Darrent Williams play.

• May 30, 2008

  8:07 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Daps4doubleD writes:

  Hey becket you should worry more about your spelling and grammar before you start talking $#%@ about the innocent.

• May 30, 2008

  8:17 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  nobodyman writes:

  That's a whole lotta words about something I don't give a crap about. If the RMN cared this much about every murder in the Metro Area, they'd run out of ink.

• May 30, 2008

  8:19 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  33y2get writes:

  Thank you for the Letter ... Now here is the needle

• May 30, 2008

  8:26 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  princess writes:

  Becket D Will a gandbanger? That man had a heart of gold and wasn't a gangbanger your crazy. Anyways if the RMN was trying to hide this guys identity for protection reasons they did a bad job. Putting out a list of criminal history and saying he came out with the letter after jail and he befriended this guy who wrote it isn't good might as well have written his name .

• May 30, 2008

  8:31 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  johnbronco writes:

  You don't know what you are talking about, I live in Oklahoma and follow OSU football, while Dwill wasn't an upstanding citizen, he was NOT a gang member

• May 30, 2008

  8:38 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  nobodyman writes:

  I do not think Williams was a gang banger. I would be surprised if even a few Denver athletes were gang bangers, even if some of them go out of their way to look/act the part.

• May 30, 2008

  8:53 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Finding_Forever writes:

  So what kind of article will you write when something happens to your source? I'm only asking because you've pretty much already identified him.

• May 30, 2008

  9:11 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  nobodyman writes:

  "D Will kicked it with bangers"

  This is what I don't get. These guys, after they're successful and make millions, they still try to impress all the idiots from the old neighborhood. Williams paid with if his life if he really was hanging out with these thugs. Looks like Vick got off lucky after all.

• May 30, 2008

  9:39 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  arvada_mark writes:

  Why did it take the DA 2 freakin' weeks to contact the source after learning of the letter? Does anybody else get the feeling the source is just looking to get paid? Oh, you are a foolish man, mr. becket.

• May 30, 2008

  9:43 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  sheepherder writes:

  Gotta love this guy with the letter. He wants to be paid BIG to give the information. Fine unpstanding citizen.

• May 30, 2008

  9:49 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  jibbons writes:

  Where are you guys getting the idea that Darrent 'kicked it with gang members?' The story says that they were at a club where gang members also were, not that they were 'kickin it together.' It was new years eve, how many people were out at clubs that night in denver? How many of those clubs were also entertaining gang members? Would you say that everybody who was in a crowded club that also was entertaining gang members was 'kickin it with gang members.'

  If you have a source for that statement, then I apologize, but I certainly have not seen any evidence to corroborate that slander. It is a shame that we don't try to teach logic in the Denver schools, maybe then people would be able to read a clear article and understand what it is saying.

  None the less, I have to agree that the rocky appears to be risking this witness's life.

• May 30, 2008

  9:56 a.m.

  vudumom writes:

  (This comment was removed by the site staff.)

• May 30, 2008

  10:29 a.m.

  DenverBoy writes:

  (This comment was removed by the site staff.)

• May 30, 2008

  10:30 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  EP writes:

  I find it remarkably irresponsible to make a masqueraded attempt at concealing the identity of the letter's source but giving enough information about his past and present legal situation for anybody even remotely associated with him to make the blindingly obvious connection. Was this story shown to him before publication? Will The Rocky do a story on this character's homicide when that happens?

  I appreciate this newspaper and have always admired the staff's journalistic integrity but someone else's life is now in danger.

• May 30, 2008

  10:37 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Heidi writes:

  EP, I guess that's the chance this guy took for a chance at $100,000! Hopefully, his intentions were sincere.

• May 30, 2008

  10:40 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  EP writes:

  Heidi, I hope so as well

• May 30, 2008

  11:04 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  RBN writes:

  Who cares what this guys intentions are, he came forward with some kind of real proof that the this scumbag did it. Give him the money and convict this killer. The club was called Club Safari, it just used a different name on black nights. Also, I don't know if Marshall is a gang banger but he has a lame-o friend/cousin that is def a gang banger and a clown as it turns out. His cousin causes more trouble then anyone and is a drunk and a loser. Marshall will screw up again because he is stupid and can't get rid of his lame family members who cause all the trouble. I hope the charge this guy and give hime death for this crime, its pretty clear he is the killer even though there is not enough evidence to charge him just yet.

• May 30, 2008

  11:04 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  elev5280 writes:

  It doesn't matter if the "source" is doing it for the right reasons or not ($$$$). If the letter implicates the murderer than so be it. Let's get this business over with once and for all. If "we" expect a source to give up information for "the right reasons" then why is a hefty reward being offered?! And why are so many plea bargains made? Hello? I think everything should be done to protect the source so the cold blooded murderer goes to jail and pays his due.

• May 30, 2008

  11:11 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  DenverBroncosFan writes:

  The RMN says it has a guy who knows about a murder and TWO WEEKS later the DA talks to him? Its a good thing they are anxioius to solve crimes over there...

• May 30, 2008

  11:13 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  Heidi writes:

  I am more concerned with justice being served than what this particular guy's intentions are. It's just too bad that we live in a society where money rules many people's actions.

• May 30, 2008

  11:30 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  knicksjc27 writes:

  D-Will a gang banger, please. Because you have corn-rolls and tats does not make you a gang member. It smells funny that the reporter is giving so much imformation about the person who gave them the letter. And it really makes me question the story when the writer can't even deliever the facts in this case. The truck was found in Green valley ranch, not Montebello. But to some it is all the same. I went and saw the statue of D-will with my son on Sunday. My son asked ,"why did he have to die." And i had know answers. Maybe this can bring more focus on our urban communities at larger instead of direspecting a man who cared about our community , and kids as a whole.

• May 30, 2008

  12:16 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  superbad writes:

  This source is a dead man walking. 34 yo Denver male who was in with Clark and had access to his letters. That will be real hard to figure out I'm sure.

• May 30, 2008

  12:16 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  buffsblg writes:

  I concur that it will take about two minutes for anyone who knows this source to figure out who it is, However, he came forward for money and went to a paper, so what did he expect? Take the witness protection dude.

  His motives are an issue,as they affect his credibility as a witness. Someone trying to get paid, especially with his record, is pretty easy to take apart on the stand. The handwriting analysis better be perfect, because a jury will have to have questions about anything this guy says.

  I will be interested to see how this proceeds. So far the feds have been driving the bus on this. Lets see if the state can take more control now.

  By the way, notice that Beckett gets on here early, spews his cra* and then never comes back? The definition of a troll and a cowardly one at that.

• May 30, 2008

  12:30 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  happymike44 writes:

  This is the kind of reason that I worry about today's youth.No one to look up to who is not selling smack and killing each other.This needs to stop or all sports will soon become a dirty word.What I do not like is the good honest people never even get mentioned in pro sports.It is always the scumbag drug dealers or crackheads.How about thowing these guys out and getting a better class of players for our children's role models.Think how much nicer it is to never have a crime associated with pro sports.They have it all and then get caught fighting dogs or dealing smack or smaking the spouse.Gimme a break you make all that money and can't seem to stay out of trouble.

• May 30, 2008

  12:54 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  BMat writes:

  After a year and a half the DPD has a letter. One letter. No suspects and no arrests, just a letter. It's not exactly the Warren Report is it?

  "Encyclopedia Brown" would have had more clues by now.

  I feel bad for D-Will's mom. The DPD just stays home when the weather is cold.

  If you want to get away with murder - do it in Denver!

• May 30, 2008

  1:53 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  MiamiMike writes:

  I think some things got lost here. NO MATTER WHAT: Williams nor anyone else deserved to die. It does not matter if it was guilt with association or even if he or anyone else in the Denver party ran their mouth at the bar. You do not deserve to be shot in cold blood. It's so funny how gang members are so tough. They are tough by guns weapons and fighting as a group. You will never see a so called gang banger who is so tough fight one on one with just his hands. I am so sick of these COWARDS thinking they are all so big and bad. Give me a gun and 3-4 buddies and let me drive up on you with out you knowing and kill you in cold blood. That is really a big man. Williams was a young guy as Marshall. It would be foolish to think they did not say something that any 23 year old would say when confronted. Bottom line it's only words. No one needed to die over it. I hope They are able to put a end to the gang violence in Denver and just maybe one day every where.

• May 30, 2008

  2:13 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  CaptainObvious writes:

  I LOVED Encyclopedia Brown!!!

• May 30, 2008

  3:03 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  whatutalkinbout writes:

  I don't know, I was a huge D-Will fan and definitely want his killer to be caught, but this kind of looks like a classic case of the media twisting things to make a big story out of nothing. It's difficult to truly decipher the prim and proper English Mr. Clark used in his letter (not to mention that it's hard to read since some of the letters got cut off on the left margin), but the way I read it, he wasn't admitting to anything. Nor did the letter prove anything. It sounded more like Clark was afraid his friends who may have shot D-Will were going to say they saw Clark shooting the gun and pin it on him to save their own arse. Am I the only one who picked up on this?

• May 30, 2008

  3:51 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  kmeissner writes:

  happymike44- D Will was not a crackhead OR a drug dealer you idiot. Your moronic rambling has nothing to do with this story at all. He did not start the fight. It was more than likely Brandon Marshall and his Cousin. He was respected in the community for his work with the charities. That IS something to admire and look up to. Just because he was killed by a gun doesn't mean he spent his life carrying one.

• May 30, 2008

  8:21 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  TheDenverB writes:

  mike, (as per usual) you need to be a bit more informed about this subject before commenting further.

• May 30, 2008

  10:54 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  den2mke writes:

  I find it extremely irresponsible the News would run this story before the source was securely out of any danger. This whole story made me sick. No way these guys don't know who this person is...

  And what is this from the Denver DA? You have the only real break in the highest profile case in town; a newspaper that's probably done half the work for you substantiating facts and the best you can do for this guy is one months rent?

  The DA and, in particular, the News have put this alleged good Samaritan at a huge risk. These folks have proven they have no problems killing witneses. Hope it doesn't happen again...

• May 30, 2008

  11:21 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  mtnsrfer writes:

  As a dirty outsider, Californian, Darth Raider, I hope they convict
  the sh!t bag that killed D. Williams.

• May 31, 2008

  12:01 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  happymike44 writes:

  Hey Denver Bea
  Thanks for saying I am ill informed.I guess Michael Vick paying people to fight dogs is my imagination.These guys went around fighting and torturing dogs.The worst part of this is when they do this they will find a dog out in a yard.This poor dog will become the bait dog.They will take this helpless dog put it in the ring with a trained killer.Then let the killer loose and work up the frenzy to fight.This I know for a fact because I work with a rescue group.They see this type of abuse all the time.So I do not want my kids or anyone's exposed to the loss of a pet by some gangsta thug and dope dealers.These are the people who are chipping away at our civilised society.Glad you can be comfortable accepting animal cruelty.It has been proven a person who kills a animal with no remorse will abuse the family and spouse as well.Also I don't want any child exposed to these kinds of role models thank you.

• May 31, 2008

  11:11 a.m.

  Vector049 writes:

  (This comment was removed by the site staff.)

• May 31, 2008

  5:51 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  kyle27 writes:

  you jackass. get your facts completely straight before making any accusations or comments. darrent williams was the farthest thing from a gangbanger. he spent his time helping kids and making sure they didn't get into gangs. he just wanted to have a fun new years at kenyon martins party and some gang just happened to be there. brandon marshall and his cousin started the mess and i'm sure darrent just tried to break it up and hes the one who had to pay. he did nothing wrong and paid the ultimate price for no reason. i hope that bastard gets what he deserves for what he did and anyone who doesnt think the same, get out.

• June 1, 2008

  3:43 p.m.

  Suggest removal

  BMat writes:

  So the RMN Mind Police are actively deleting comments that don't fit their own views on reality. At least three comments above were deemed "anti-revolutionary" by this crack-pot staff.

  But Vector049 can type a comment like "Negros" which is obviously racially charged and designed to propogate hate with no basis in the context of the story - and it will stay there for days.

  What? The RMN Mind Police don't work on the weekends? Cowards!

  Not even my pet bird likes to use this fish wrap . . .

• June 4, 2008

  5:34 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  letmetellyou writes:

  Let's get all the facts straight! And lets get some updates on some of the other other murders that took place in colorado. Every case deserves the same amount of attention!!! If everybody cared about other people that has been murdered like they care about this maybe so many cases wouldn't be unsolved.