On the night of April 1, 2022, in Denver, Colorado, 22-year-old Ricardo Joseph Levon Santos, known as Ricky, was killed after an argument with a passenger in his car. Ricardo had been driving with a passenger, 20-year-old Vincent Tapia, and two female companions while the men drank tequila and smoked marijuana. Ricardo handed a revolver to Tapia during the drive.

The vehicle was involved in a hit-and-run on Federal Boulevard. An argument between Ricardo and Tapia followed, and Ricardo pulled the car over at 16th Avenue and Irving Street. Both men exited and began a physical confrontation. Tapia produced the revolver and shot Ricardo twice. Tapia ran on foot; officers found him sprinting about five blocks away within minutes and arrested him with the revolver in his possession. Ricardo was taken to Denver Health Medical Center and died shortly after arrival.

Tapia was charged with Ricardo Santos’s murder. The case raises questions about what sparked the argument after the collision and why a firearm was in the car; anyone who knew Ricardo or was in the area that night is asked to come forward with information.