Denison Figueroa

In the city of Holyoke, Massachusetts, a family has waited more than two decades for answers in the death of Denison Figueroa, a young man whose life was cut short by gunfire in the autumn of 2000. At 22 years old, Denison was just beginning his adult life when he became a victim of a homicide that has remained unsolved, his case now a file among the region's most persistent cold cases. The passage of time has not diminished the need for justice or the hope that someone will come forward with the information needed to close this painful chapter.

The final day of Denison’s life was Sunday, October 22, 2000. That evening, in the city known for its historic canals and paper mills, a call brought police to Beech Street. There, they found Denison Figueroa, a male, gravely wounded. He had been shot multiple times. Emergency responders rushed him to a nearby hospital, but the severity of his injuries was too great, and he succumbed to them, leaving his loved ones to grapple with a sudden and violent loss. The specific circumstances of the shooting—what led to it and who was responsible—were not immediately clear, and the initial investigation did not lead to an arrest.

The case fell to the Holyoke Police Department and the Massachusetts State Police detectives assigned to the Hampden District Attorney's Office. Investigators would have canvassed the neighborhood, interviewed potential witnesses, and collected physical evidence from the scene on Beech Street. In the years that followed, however, the trail grew cold. No suspects were publicly named, and the motive for the shooting remains unknown. The case has been passed down through generations of detectives, each hoping for the new lead or technological break that might finally solve the crime.

As of May 2026, the murder of Denison Figueroa is still an active and open investigation. It is featured on the Hampden District Attorney's list of unresolved homicides, a somber collection of cases that authorities are determined not to forget. This public listing serves as a constant appeal to the community, a reminder that even small, seemingly insignificant details could be the key to unlocking a case. Advances in forensic science, particularly in DNA analysis, have given new hope to solving older cases, and investigators continue to review the evidence in Denison's murder for new opportunities.

The Hampden District Attorney’s Office and the Massachusetts State Police remain committed to finding justice for Denison and his family. They periodically highlight cold cases like his in the hope of jogging someone's memory. Someone in the community may know what happened on Beech Street that night and may have been afraid to speak up at the time. Authorities urge anyone with information, no matter how minor it may seem, to come forward.

The investigation into the death of Denison Figueroa is ongoing. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Massachusetts State Police Detective Unit at (413) 505-5993 or the State Police Unresolved Cases Unit at 1-855-MA-SOLVE (1-855-627-6583). Tips can also be texted to the word SOLVE at 274637 (CRIMES). A call could be the one that finally brings answers to a family that has waited far too long.