Army Sergeant Anthony Nor Tony Silva was 25 when he was killed in Denver in the early morning of July 23, 2011. While waiting at a Motel 6 on Paris Street for his father to drive him home after a canceled flight and a back injury that ended plans to re-enlist, Silva was found shot to death in the street after reportedly taking his dog for a walk. A final message to his parents read, In some shit but ok.

Investigators traced texts to a phone linked to 22-year-old Ricky Scott and recovered DNA on Silva’s hand matching Scott. A confidential informant said Silva had arranged to buy $200 worth of marijuana from Scott and associates, that a fight in a rental car involved one companion allegedly beating Silva with a baseball bat, and that Scott shot Silva multiple times. When Silva’s body was found he had $100 in cash and no marijuana.

Scott was arrested August 26, 2011, and in December 2012 a jury found him guilty of first-degree murder; the conviction carried a mandatory life sentence without parole. Anyone who knew Silva, his movements that night, or who has information about the case is asked to come forward.