On New Year’s Day 2007, 24-year-old Denver Broncos cornerback Darrent Demarcus Williams was killed in a drive-by shooting in downtown Denver. The shooting happened about 2:10 AM, less than 12 hours after Williams had played in the final game of the Broncos’ season. He was a passenger in a rented stretch Hummer limousine that had been leaving a New Year’s Eve and birthday party at the Shelter nightclub when another vehicle pulled alongside and opened fire. A single gunshot wound to the neck killed Williams almost instantly; he died in teammate Javon Walker’s arms.

The confrontation reportedly began inside the club between members of Williams’s group and other patrons, alleged to include members of the Crips; witnesses said Williams tried to act as a peacemaker. The investigation quickly focused on gang members. Police impounded a vehicle registered to Brian Hicks, and four days later arrested Willie D. Clark on a parole violation and named him a person of interest. Clark was later indicted, tried, convicted of first-degree murder and given life plus additional years. Brian Hicks and Vernon Edwards were also identified as persons of interest and linked to a broader federal drug probe.

If anyone knew Williams, who he was with that night, or saw the limousine leaving Shelter, please come forward with information.