Denver police arrest two for separate murders in Montbello and East Colfax

One of the homicides is believed to be a domestic violence incident.

Denve Police officers on the scene of a shooting near the DSST Cole middle school at the Mitchell building, Aug. 28, 2018. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

Denve Police officers on the scene of a shooting near the DSST Cole middle school at the Mitchell building, Aug. 28, 2018. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

(Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

staff photo

Denver police made two arrests this week related to two separate homicide investigations, the department said Tuesday.

Elliott McDuffie, 26, was arrested Monday night under investigation for first-degree murder and first-degree assault in connection to an Aug. 9 shooting, according to a release from police. The shooting happened near the 12400 block of East Albrook Drive in Montbello and was one of four separate shootings — three of which were fatal — over a nine-hour span in Denver between Aug. 8 and Aug. 9.

An arrest affidavit said officers responded to the initial Shot Spotter call on East Albrook Drive and found two victims, who were transported to Denver Health Medical Center. A woman was later pronounced dead at the hospital while the second victim, a man, was treated for serious but non-life-threatening injuries. The arrest affidavit said Shot Spotter detected eight gunshots.

Police also arrested Sean Landrock, 25, on Monday under investigation for first-degree murder in connection to a fatal shooting at 8000 E. 12th Ave. the same day. According to the release, officers responded to the location on East 12th Avenue after a reported shooting and found a woman dead in the apartment.

After obtaining a search warrant, police confirmed the woman had been a victim of domestic violence, according to the release. The investigation led to Landrock, who was identified as a suspect and taken into custody Monday evening.

Police have not named suspects in two other recent homicide investigations, including an Aug. 8 shooting, which happened near West Colorado Avenue and South Meade Street in Mar Lee, and an Aug. 9 shooting in East 54th Avenue and Xenia Street in Stapleton.

On Monday, police identified the person fatally shot near East 54th Avenue as Aiden Lawrence, who was 14. Police are asking anyone with information related to the shooting to call call Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867. Police are offering an up to $2,000 reward for information. Callers can remain anonymous.

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