Demetrius Cruz

A teen is shot and killed in Denver while riding in a car with his cousin
Demetrius Paul Cruz, a funny and down-to-earth 15-year-old known to his loved ones as “Meech,” dreamed of becoming a professional rapper. Born and raised in Denver, Colorado, the Hispanic teen was rarely seen without one of his 20 baseball caps, chosen each day to match his outfit. His family remembered him as a jokester who could walk into a room and make everyone laugh. From the moment he woke up, he would rap, turning routine conversations into songs. If he wasn't rapping, he was often playing video games or football with his younger brother. At the time of his death, Demetrius and his parents, Sonny and Antoinette Cruz, were living in a Volunteers of America homeless shelter.

In the early morning hours of Saturday, December 15, 2012, Demetrius was planning to spend the night with his 18-year-old cousin at his great-grandmother's house. The two were driving home after a night out when a white car began to follow them. The chase started near Lowell Boulevard and Irving Street, with the pursuing car repeatedly ramming the back of their vehicle. Terrified, Demetrius made a frantic phone call to his aunt, Michelle Cruz, telling her they were being chased and that the people in the other car wanted to kill them. He told her, "They keep hitting the car."

As his cousin sped through the streets of southwest Denver, someone in the white car opened fire. While driving on Sheridan Boulevard between West Dartmouth and West Bates avenues, Demetrius was struck twice in the back. His cousin, who ducked to avoid the bullets, stopped the car after Demetrius was hit. He then carried his mortally wounded cousin's body and ran to nearby houses, pounding on doors and desperately trying to find help.

Police and first responders arrived at the scene in the 5200 block of West Bates Avenue around 3:50 a.m. Demetrius was rushed to Denver Health Medical Center, but his injuries were too severe, and he was pronounced dead. The Denver coroner's office confirmed he died from two gunshot wounds to the back. The white suspect vehicle was seen leaving the area just before officers arrived.

The Denver Police Department launched an investigation, with detectives from the major crimes unit working around the clock. Initially, police commander Ron Saunier stated there were no immediate signs of gang involvement, but he did not rule anything out. Years later, investigators revealed they believed the murder may have been connected to escalating violence between rival graffiti tagging crews. Police noted a rise in conflicts between groups, which sometimes included the number "187," the California penal code for homicide, in their tags. Demetrius’s family denied he was a tagger but acknowledged he knew people who were, which may have played a role in the shooting.

In the days and weeks following the murder, Demetrius's family held press conferences, pleading with the public for any information. His aunt Michelle begged for witnesses to come forward so they would not have to live with the guilt. His brother, Donovan Cruz, expressed the family's pain, saying, "If you know anything to help us find the killer of my little brother; it’s not right that killers are running around Denver... We need help to get one more killer in jail, off the streets." Friends and family also created a Facebook page titled "Justice for Demetrius 'Meech' Cruz" in his memory.

As of September 2016, the case had been transferred to the Denver Police Department's cold case unit. No arrests have ever been made, and no suspects have been publicly identified. The case remains unsolved, a painful open wound for a family still seeking justice for the funny, music-loving boy whose life was violently cut short.

Anyone with information about the murder of Demetrius Cruz is urged to contact the Denver Police Department at 720-913-2000 or Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP (7867).