A man has been arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with a shooting Thursday afternoon in west Denver, which began with a demand for free food.
Rafael Acosta-Hernandez, 24, was detained following the gunshot that took place around 12:18 p.m. Thursday in the 2600 block of Zuni Street, near the intersection with North Speer Boulevard.
According to a probable cause (PC) statement from Denver Police after his arrest, Acosta-Hernandez got into an altercation with the victim, which escalated into the shooting. According to the report, Acosta-Hernandez was standing outside the pickup truck he used to sell food and drinks when the victim approached and asked for free food and salsa. When Acosta-Hernandez refused, the victim left.
According to the PC statement, Acosta-Hernandez became enraged after the victim muttered something along the lines of “come here” as he left. He stated that he felt disrespected by their interaction and the victim’s “aggressive manner.” According to the PC statement, he informed officers that he grabbed his revolver from his truck, chased the victim down an alley, and shot him roughly eight times. The victim later died in the hospital.
