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Grower Allegedly Kills Teen, No 'Make My Day' Law

By Stan Bush

DENVER (CBS4) - Murder charges have been filed in the shooting death of a 15-year-old in Denver's Whittier neighborhood.

On Oct. 9, Keylin Mosley and another 14-year-old boy hopped a fence and were allegedly shot by 48-year-old Keith Hammock from a second story bedroom window. Investigators discovered Hammock was illegally growing marijuana in his backyard.

Keylin Mosley
Keylin Mosley (credit: CBS)

During their investigation Denver police learned that a year ago Hammock had shot another teenager who hopped the fence. That shooting went unreported. A spokeswoman for Denver's district attorney says the victim likely did not report the facts of the shooting since he was hopping the fence to get to the marijuana.

Colorado's Make My Day Law does not apply since Hammock did not face a threat to his safety.

Hammock spoke with CBS4 in May of 2015 outraged after a community art project painted The Color Line, Denver's previous line of segregation, down his alley.

Keith Hammock
Keith Hammock (credit: Denver DA)

"I see it from my bedroom window. I have to be reminded by the color line. It's annoying," said Hammock in the previous report.

Hammock refused a jailhouse interview on Thursday. He is being held without bond and is charged with first-degree murder, four counts of attempted murder, and illegal growing of marijuana.

Stan Bush is a general assignment reporter at CBS4. His stories can be seen on CBS4 News at 10. Read his bio and follow him on Twitter @StanBushTV.

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