Soldier Sent Strange Text Message To Parents Before Getting Gunned Down
DENVER (CBS4) - CBS4 has uncovered a new clue in the murder of a Fort Carson soldier in Denver.
Sgt. Anthony Silva was about to drive home to Illinois with his father when he was shot and killed. It happened last month outside a Motel 6 on Paris Street. CBS4's Tom Mustin spoke with Silva's parents. He found out Silva got in touch with them shortly before his death.
Silva's parents in their hometown of Colombia, Ill. said about an hour before their son was gunned down they received a very disturbing text message from him. Denver police are not talking about the case but the family says the text message seemed to indicate that their son was in danger
Ricky Scott, 22, was arrested Friday night at his home on West 37th Street in Denver. Police have not released his picture.
"He was strange and just like weird," Paula Vigil said of her neighbor, Scott.
According to police records obtained by CBS4, an hour before Silva was shot he sent a disturbing text message to his parents saying, "In some sh-- but ok. Call me 2morrow."
Vigil said Scott moved into her neighborhood a few weeks ago with his girlfriend and a child; and she saw some bad signs.
"I kind of had a feeling that something wasn't going to be right," Vigil said. "One day he was out here talking on the phone, talking stupid like a gangster ... 'I'm ready to go to jail' and all this stuff."
Silva's parents say Scott's arrest is bittersweet.
"I'm glad we got the guy. It doesn't bring Tony back and it's justice for Tony. Hopefully he'll rest in peace and we'll get some peace out of it too," Silva's mother Diane Silva said.
Silva's parents say they blame United Airlines for putting their son in harm's way. They say United cancelled their son's flight and recommended he stay at the Motel 6.
United said they are aware of the situation and they'll send CBS4 a statement, but so far that statement has not arrived.
Denver police say the case remains an open investigation.
