Police Arrest Suspect In Deadly Shooting Of Teen
By Tom Mustin
DENVER (CBS4)- Denver police have arrested a man accused of shooting two teenagers who were allegedly trying to steal marijuana plants from his backyard.
Keith David Hammock is behind bars facing several charges, including first-degree murder.
"Within a minute or two the cops were here," said neighbor Scott Hachey.
Hachey woke up early Sunday morning to the sound of deadly gunfire near his home in the Whittier neighborhood.
"We heard the shots ring off. There was about six initially then a little break, then we heard two more," he told CBS4's Tom Mustin.
Minutes earlier, Denver police received a call from a 14-year-old, saying he had been shot and his 15-year-old friend, Keylin Mosley was dead.
Police used shot spotter technology to find the two victims in the backyard of a home on High Street. They allegedly had been shot by Hammock, 48, after climbing his fence and trying to steal his illegal outdoor pot plants.
"We proceeded to watch. Unfortunately, the ambulance came and wheeled off two individuals," said Hachey.
The 14-year-old remained in critical condition Tuesday and according to his mother, may be paralyzed.
Police say Hammock told them the teens jumped over his fence, and he found them lying on the ground. Officers later found two rifles and spent cartridges near Hammock's second floor window.
Police arrested Hammock on first-degree murder, attempted murder and illegal cultivation of marijuana charges.
Hachey says he recently caught two teens who tried to break into his back yard.
"We've had a couple of kids of that exact age try to break in to our yard, and try to get our bikes. I wonder if it was the same kids. That's really sad," said Hachey.
So sad that he believes, no matter what happened, the suspect should pay.
"Man, he killed a kid. he should go to jail for life."
CBS4 legal analyst Karen Steinhauser says Hammock could try and argue Colorado's Make My Day law as a legal defense. The DA's office will have the final say.
Tom Mustin is CBS4's Weekend Anchor. He has been with CBS4 since 2002, and is always looking for great story ideas. Connect with Tom on Facebook or follow him on Twitter @TomCBS4.