DENVER — Denver District Attorney Beth McCann on Wednesday announced her decision to drop the remaining charge against a man accused of fatally shooting two brothers on Interstate 25 in June 2023.
Just before 3 p.m. on June 13, 2023, Denver police responded to the northbound lanes of Interstate 25 between W. 6th Avenue and W. 8th Avenue. The first officer to arrive at the scene found a man lying in the road on the off-ramp with severe head trauma, according to the probable cause statement. The man was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 4:22 p.m.
The officer found a second victim on northbound I-25 under W. 6th Avenue. That man had several gunshot wounds. He was pronounced dead at the scene at 3:10 p.m., according to the probable cause statement.
The victims were identified as Blake Lucas, 21, and Damon Lucas, 22, by their family on June 15. They said the brothers were on their way to a job interview. Their deaths were ruled a homicide by the Denver Office of the Medical Examiner on June 15.
Denver
One charge dropped in alleged road rage shooting that killed brothers in Denver
According to a probable cause statement, Stephan Long, 26, told investigators he was driving northbound on I-25 when the occupants of a vehicle driving alongside him began yelling at him. The other vehicle allegedly pulled in front of Long and cut him off.
Not long after, the passenger in the other vehicle allegedly exited the car and approached Long's car. The passenger began "grabbing and hitting" Long through his open driver's window, Long told investigators. Long said he grabbed his handgun and shot the passenger who was reaching through his window.
Long told investigators he tried to drive away but the driver of the other vehicle exited their car and approached him. Long reportedly began to drive away but the driver apparently clung to the open window while the car was moving. Long said he shot the driver when he exited the highway.
The probable cause statement concludes by saying, in part, "The suspect also fled the scene and did not call 911 about this incident. The suspect was not injured and did not have any visible injuries."
Denver
Family urges DA to drop murder charge against man in alleged road rage case
Long was charged with two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the shooting. One of those charges was dropped in October 2023.
In a statement Wednesday, McCann said her office "could not prove Mr. Long's guilt to a jury beyond a reasonable doubt."
"The evidence establishes a strong and valid self-defense claim pursuant to Colorado law," the DA continued.
McCann concluded her statement by calling the decision "extremely difficult and heart-wrenching... but, ultimately, in my opinion, the correct one."
Full statement:
"After a careful and comprehensive review of all the evidence in the case -- which included numerous consultations with members of my office -- and after applying Colorado law to the evidence, I have concluded that we could not prove Mr. Long’s guilt to a jury beyond a reasonable doubt. The evidence establishes a strong and valid self-defense claim pursuant to Colorado law. As a result, we will ask the court to dismiss the remaining charges against Mr. Long. This was an extremely difficult and heart-wrenching decision but, ultimately, in my opinion, the correct one."
The Lucas family called the decision from the DA's office "heartbreaking." Jessica Lucas, Blake and Damon's aunt, wanted to see the DA's office push harder to take this case to trial and believes justice was not served.
“I don't see how somebody can claim self-defense when all Damon was trying to do was stop [Long] from leaving the scene of the crime after shooting his own brother. That's what any sibling would do in that situation," Jessica said. “I think I can say, on behalf of the Lucas family, that this is going to be a really hard time to get through. The last year has been rough, as is having those first holidays without them, first birthdays without them, it's hard. They still had a lot of life to experience, whether that was a career or babies or marriage, anything. That all got taken away from them.”
Amber Rivera, Blake and Damon's mother, said she plans to file a wrongful death lawsuit or pursue defamation charges against the Long family.
Long's family has repeatedly proclaimed his innocence. In May, the family and the Denver Justice Project dropped off roughly 500 letters urging McCann to drop the remaining first-degree murder charge. The letters were signed by different community members and organizations.
The family requested privacy on Wednesday evening. Long's mother, Stephanie Clifton, said they want to take this time to be with family and "cherish this moment of freedom."
In a statement, the Denver Justice Project said the dismissal represents "the justice Stephan deserved from the beginning." The organization said the decision "could set an important precedent in the legal system, paving the way for fairer and more equitable treatment for all."
Full Statement:
This dismissal represents the justice Stephan deserved from the very beginning. Unfortunately, the delayed injustice he has endured throughout his criminal proceedings has brought to light significant systemic inadequacies and racial disparities in the application of self-defense laws, particularly when Black men are forced to defend themselves against white aggressors. It is our hope that this dismissal not only rectifies the wrongs done to Stephan but also serves as a crucial step toward addressing these broader issues. We believe this case could set an important precedent in the legal system, paving the way for fairer and more equitable treatment for all.
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