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DNC guest's death ruled homicide

By Bill Scanlon, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published October 16, 2008 at 12:06 p.m.
Updated October 17, 2008 at 12:53 a.m.

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An American Indian tribal leader died outside a Denver strip club from pressure applied to his neck by a person trying to restrain him during an altercation, the Denver medical examiner said Thursday, ruling the case a homicide.

Gabriel Matthew Pico Sr., 41, a tribal council member of the Pechanga Band of the Luiseno Indians of Southern California, had been a guest of the Democratic National Convention in Denver.

Early on the morning of Aug. 30, he and a companion got into a dispute outside the Diamond Cabaret.

Medical Examiner Dr. Amy Martin said Pico died because not enough oxygen reached his brain.

He was transported to Denver Health Medical Center, but died two days later without having regained consciousness.

"Now that we have the autopsy results, we're going to complete our investigation and then present it to the district attorney to determine if charges are warranted and who should be charged," said Denver police spokesman Sonny Jackson.

Comments

  • October 16, 2008

    12:26 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    KING writes:

    u mean he didnt kill himself...wow thats news ! RMN stands for Really moronic newspaper.

  • October 16, 2008

    12:34 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Oroboros writes:

    King: it's the media's job to report the news. When the coroner releases an autopsy report regarding a newsworthy death, that's exactly what the newspapers usually do -- report on the contents.

    While it may seem self-evident to you here in hindsight, there could have been any number of complicating factors. Maybe he had a heart attack due to the struggle. Maybe he was so drunk that he died of alcohol poisoning. I for one am glad to have access to the information regarding the real cause of death. There's nothing moronic on this page, except possibly your comment.

    If you don't like the reporting of this or any other newspaper, don't read it.

    Why is it that there are so many whiny posters on these boards? Is the economy so bad that your only recourse in life is to become an armchair editor?

  • October 16, 2008

    12:43 p.m.

    Newenergycommie writes:

    (This comment was removed by the site staff.)

  • October 16, 2008

    12:44 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    KING writes:

    obororos....

    First a death at a strip club is hardly news...the only reason the RMN is reporting this is ONE..it happened at the DNC and two because he comes from Indian decent. If this had been some white boy during any other day other then convention week, we would not have heard word one. Thus, the media is selective in their story choices. All I am saying is that if the job is to report the news..then do it without basis and without the sensationalism that so many media outlets spew. Moreover, it would be nice to see this newspaper be more selective with its story placement and not put things such as restaurant closings on the front page...

  • October 16, 2008

    12:55 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    gallegoi writes:

    I knew it was the bouncers. They are knows to overreact and gang up on one person. My nephew had the same thing happen to him in Colo. Spgs. with bouncers all over him. Unfortunatly, he ended up in prison for defending himself from these clowns. They should be indicted for manslaughter but I will settle for Karma.

  • October 16, 2008

    12:56 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    SteelersFan writes:

    What's the matter Big_D? Does the truth hurt?

  • October 16, 2008

    1 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Scott writes:

    Big_D,

    No more defamatory, obscene, etc., than what really happens during elections in Chicago, Louisiana, etc.. In those locations an election isn't called until the "graveyard" vote is counted.

    Scott

  • October 16, 2008

    1:01 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    COLibertarian writes:

    I too dont like nor trust the Bouncers at strip clubs. They just dont understand that guys wanna go out and have some fun with the crew.

    Signed Sincerely

    Pacman Jones

  • October 16, 2008

    1:06 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    buzzman writes:

    Bouncers are usually a bunch of ego-maniacs with a license to push people around-( cops ??) they shoud be charged with manslaughter and sent to jail-
    Hank was funny-chill people

  • October 16, 2008

    1:10 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    COLibertarian writes:

    AmaranthArticia writes:

    Did you see who signed the comment on my posting? :-) Satire.....sorry was not funny to you

  • October 16, 2008

    1:14 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    COLibertarian writes:

    Freedom of speech is grand UNLESS you say something about Illegal voting and Obama in the same sentence according to the UNIFIER known as Big_D

    Then you have them removed!!!!!! Nice

  • October 16, 2008

    1:23 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    rkoehler writes:

    I feel bad that he died and, much more insignificantly, that this is another case of an American Indian (and Democratic Conventioneer) engaging in bad practices (i.e., alcohol and strip clubs). I wish the best for his family and friends.

  • October 16, 2008

    1:24 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Scott writes:

    COLibertarian,

    Yup, little_d just exemplifies my view that libs have had their sense of humor surgically removed. I'm waiting for the little twerp to have my 1 PM comment removed.

    Scott

  • October 16, 2008

    1:27 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    COLibertarian writes:

    Scott,

    Heck thought my Pacman comment would get me nixed also :-)

  • October 16, 2008

    1:32 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Scott writes:

    COLibertarian,

    The humor in your "Pacman" comment was over little_d's head. Therefore, it didn't turn you in to the PC Gestapo ;-)

    Scott

  • October 16, 2008

    1:34 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    cterryr2 writes:

    Bouncers only bounce on you if you start acting like an idiot. I have been to strip clubs all over the USA and never had 1 issue - ever. I have seen my share of totally out of control customers though. Still, no excuse and I hope they get what they deserve. They have no special rights as bouncers. The police should have been called immediately. Strip clubs are not that bad as some make them out to be. The customers are usually the problem 90% of the time.

  • October 16, 2008

    1:37 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    LadyBird112 writes:

    ooh, an entertaining board.

  • October 16, 2008

    1:38 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    COLibertarian writes:

    Big_D

    A defamatory lie????????? How about when the Ark. Dem Party chairman was shot and you and others decried the fact that this was done by a REP without proof that it was. You did this for multiple days in a row......making it sound like it was a fact...you justified your statements with a crock of hooey.....what? for partisan BS politics. Big_D you have been caught doing this many times. And this coming from a person most likely voting a D ticket.........
    And you blame Republicans for the divide amongst us? You single handedly have created more division and hatred on this forum than I thought imaginable.

  • October 16, 2008

    1:52 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    blacksho89 writes:

    King: How many deaths have occurred at a strip club in Denver this year?

    PS "media" are plural.

    Have a nice day!

  • October 16, 2008

    2:07 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    DenverNATIVE1 writes:

    Stripclubs are for losers.

  • October 16, 2008

    2:21 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Scott writes:

    Hey COLibertarian,

    It's been kinda' quiet from little_d since you whack it at 1:38 PM :-)

    Scott

  • October 16, 2008

    2:25 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    mmannino writes:

    This case seems ambiguous. The customer was large, drunk, and drugged. The bouncers may have felt it was necessary to subdue him to prevent harm to others. It could also have been excessive force and over reaction. The case will probably be litigated either in criminal court or civil court.

  • October 16, 2008

    2:45 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Scott writes:

    AmaranthArticia,

    Regarding "Pacman" Jones, go here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pacman_J... and scroll down to "Suspension".

    Scott

  • October 16, 2008

    2:46 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Scott writes:

    AmaranthArticia,

    Correction: Scroll down to "Legal Troubles".

    Scott

  • October 16, 2008

    3:40 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    gs writes:

    Someone will be charged with murder and arrested. I call that a big deal. who is going to take the hit?

  • October 16, 2008

    3:43 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Newenergycommie writes:

    I am truly sorry for my comment above (removed) about voter fraud and Obama. He has absolutely no connection to Acorn and he did not rise to power in Chicago and even if he had, Chicago is a shining example of fair elections. Dead people don’t vote in Chicago and Acorn does not register a voter more than once.
    Now will the Obama supporter that took my puppy please release him?

  • October 16, 2008

    3:48 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    blacksho89 writes:

    The Obama supporter that took your puppy turned him over to PETA, which euthanized him and put him in a dumpster.

    Sorry, man.

  • October 16, 2008

    3:58 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Newenergycommie writes:

    I will miss the little guy, but he can now vote.

  • October 16, 2008

    4:07 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Oroboros writes:

    All allegations of fraud aside, John McCain was a keynote speaker at an ACORN rally in 2006:

    http://www.acorn.org/index.php?id=124...[tt_news]=22386&tx_ttnews[backPid]=12387&cHash=5706e23a2f

    Obama represented ACORN in a 1995 lawsuit:

    http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/11/us/...

    Any dirt that comes from association with ACORN is shared by both candidates.

  • October 16, 2008

    4:08 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    Oroboros writes:

    RMN munged the URL, likely due to the use of brackets. Here's a tinyurl link to the press release regarding McCain's association with ACORN:

    http://tinyurl.com/4dwpqy

  • October 16, 2008

    4:49 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    ramAZ writes:

    Come on Oroboros. Why do you have to bring REALITY into the mix when it's so fun spreading biased political propoganda?

    If you keep bringing up the truth, the McCain/Female GW Bush ticket won't have anything to talk about.

  • October 16, 2008

    4:56 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    pete10000ft writes:

    remember: there is no sex in the champagne room...

  • October 16, 2008

    5:54 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    COLibertarian writes:

    Hey Oroboros, Did you copy and paste those from Big_D's postings from other thread orrrrrrrrr did you do a switch arooo??????