Grandfather Shot On Morning Walk Through Park, Police Baffled By Apparent Random Act
DENVER (CBS4)- The identity of the man who was found shot to death in a park on Saturday morning has been released while investigators ask for the public's help in tracking down his killer.
Police said Jose Frias-Olivas left his daughter's home in southwest Denver to go for his morning walk on Aug. 15. He was visiting Denver to attend his daughter's wedding.
"He was a very kind man, we were very shocked by the news that somebody took his life. He had no problems with anyone," said Frias-Olivas' grandson Luis Frias.
About 10:20 a.m. Frias-Olivas, 61, was found a few blocks from the family home, shot to death in Harvard Gulch Park West near the intersection of West Vassar Avenue and South Federal Boulevard.
"It's a shame that you would take someone's life just for no reason. It's very sad, leaving a family very wounded because of fun, sport or just a gang. It's very shameful," said Luis Frias.
"We are talking to the witnesses and people in the area to see what they did see and we're following up on every lead we get," said Denver police spokesman Sonny Jackson.
Officers started interviewing residents in the surrounding blocks when a man sped away in a red SUV. Police pursued the man and the chase ended a couple of miles away when an officer crashed his cruiser into a tree. Other officers were able to capture the suspect.
It is unclear whether the man involved in the chase was connected to the deadly shooting.
Denver Police said Frias-Olivas' phone and wallet were not taken, and there appears to be no motive in the crime.
"He wasn't from here, so I doubt he had any kind of history of anyone being upset with him," said Jackson.
Frias-Olivas had just retired and was excited to be in the U.S. His daughter said Frias-Olivas had seen a lot of crime in Mexico, but always felt safe in Colorado.
"Mexico is a country with a lot of violence, so we can't understand why here," said Maria Frias.
His family said baseball was his passion and they're honoring his memory by playing baseball in the park where he died.
"The day before he died he was at Coors Field. Every Sunday he would be watching baseball, getting in trouble with my grandmother because of his love for baseball," said Frias-Olivas' granddaughter Jessica Frias.
The family will soon travel back to Mexico to lay their grandfather to rest and hope for justice.
"We're hoping that my grandfather's soul is resting in peace," said Luis Frias.
Additional Information From The Denver Police Department
Anyone with information is asked to call Denver police at (720) 913-2000. Remain anonymous and earn up to $2,000. Call Crime Stoppers at (720) 913-STOP (7867). Text to CRIMES (274637) then title DMCS and enter the message or send an e-mail to metro-denvercrimestoppers.com.
