On July 4, 1985, James Thompson, a 62-year-old Black man, was fatally shot while on his patio in the 2600 block of Dexter Street in Denver. A bullet pierced the patio cover and struck him, and authorities classified the incident as a homicide. The shooting occurred during Independence Day activities, and reports describe the wound as coming from a stray or intentionally fired round that reached his home.

The Denver Police Department opened an investigation but the case eventually went cold. No arrests have been announced and no suspects have been publicly identified. The department continues to seek information that could identify who fired the shot and bring closure to Thompson’s family.

Did anyone in the neighborhood on that Fourth of July see or hear anything that might help solve this case?