Roger Baxter spent more than three months in the hospital after a semi-truck hit him in October as he worked on the side of the highway, costing him his right leg.
Near tragedy struck again Tuesday.
Baxter, 57, was shot once in the upper body when he confronted two burglars who had broken into his home in the 19100 block of East Nassau Drive. Baxter and his wife, Deb, had just returned home when they spotted the burglars.
Police did not identify Baxter as the victim but neighbors did.
His condition was not available, but police said Baxter’s injury was not life-threatening. Police spokesman Bob Friel said a bullet hit a cell phone Baxter was carrying, otherwise his injury could have been much worse.
Friends and neighbors who gathered outside the home were shocked to learn of yet another setback for the family.
“They’ve been though so much in the last year, I just can’t believe this happened,” said Kryssy Kimminau, who lives two houses down from the Baxters.
They would see Baxter going up and down the street in his wheelchair. He worked hard on his physical therapy after the accident last year on Interstate 70 near Watkins.
Baxter was clipped by the semi as he stopped to pick up a piece of rubber on the shoulder of the road. Doctors had to amputate his right leg from the knee down.
He was well on his way to recovery before Tuesday’s shooting.
Police arrested two juveniles in connection with the incident, which happened at about 11 a.m. Two male juveniles matching the description of the suspects were spotted by police about two hours later walking around the neighborhood.
Several schools in the area were locked down as police searched for suspects.
Those who know Baxter say he enjoys fishing at nearby Cherry Creek Reservoir, as a large boat parked in his driveway indicates. Mail carrier Korea Lee, who was making his rounds on Tuesday afternoon, looked forward to seeing what Baxter had bagged.
“He showed me the fish he caught,” Lee said. “He’s a nice guy.”
Kimminau said the home invasion is even scarier given that at least one person is usually home during the day in most of the houses in the neighborhood.
“I was here all morning but I left around 11 to run errands,” she said. “Thank God, because I have three little ones at home.”
Staff writer Carlos Illescas can be reached at 303-954-1175 or cillescas@denverpost.com.
