Six months after Denver Broncos cornerback Darrent Williams was killed, police say the last of three men wanted in connection with the case is in custody, although no one has been charged in the athlete’s death.
U.S. marshals spotted Daniel “Ponytail” Harris on a flight roster of passengers from Cancún, Mexico, and arrested him on federal drug charges when his plane landed at Denver International Airport on June 12, according to a law enforcement source.
The roundup of suspects has occurred with little public comment from law enforcement authorities, but people familiar with the case confirmed police have zeroed in on three people they believe could help them crack the case. Their custody is related to criminal charges or parole violations – not Williams’ death.
Williams, 24, was killed about 2 a.m. New Year’s Day in a drive-by shooting while riding in a limousine in downtown Denver. He and friends had just left the Shelter nightclub at 1037 Broadway, where several Broncos and Denver Nuggets players were sponsoring a party to celebrate the new year and Nuggets player Kenyon Martin’s birthday.
At the time, witnesses and Williams’ family members said an argument broke out between two groups of men as Williams was leaving the club. A short time later, he was shot in the neck as he rode in a stretch Hummer limo at West 11th Avenue and Speer Boulevard, several blocks away.
Two others in the Hummer, Nicole Reindl, 21, and Brandon Flowers, were wounded. Broncos wide receiver Javon Walker, 28, was sitting next to Williams in the limo but was not injured.
The gang-style slaying prompted an outcry and renewed concerns over gangs in Denver.
In the wake of the incident, community activists have promised a stronger effort to prevent youths from joining gangs and an outreach effort aimed at persuading gang members to get out of the dangerous street lifestyle.
Police sources say Harris, 36; 24-year-old Willie Clark; and Vernon Edwards, 29, – all gang members, according to court records – were in the white Chevrolet Tahoe from which the shots were fired that killed Williams.
The Tahoe belongs to Brian Kenneth Hicks, a leader in the Tre Tre Crips gang, who was indicted in the federal drug case.
A source said that while in jail, Hicks gave Harris the Tahoe to try to help raise bail money, but the vehicle was not worth enough to post Hicks’ bond and Harris kept the SUV.
Clark is in prison on a parole violation, and Edwards is in federal custody because he was indicted in a separate crack-cocaine-dealing case involving members of the Crips gang.
Jeff Dorschner, spokesman for the U.S. attorney’s office, confirmed Harris was arrested on a flight from Cancún but emphasized that Harris was picked up only regarding federal drug charges.
No one has been charged in Williams’ death.
Harris had been hiding in Cancún after the Williams shooting, the law enforcement source said.
The reason he returned with federal crack-cocaine-trafficking charges hanging over his head was not clear. Harris’ attorney, Daniel J. Sears, declined to discuss the case.
“He returned to Denver after learning there was an indictment outstanding for him,” Sears said.
Lawyer Anthony Viorst, who is representing Edwards on federal drug-trafficking charges, said, “My information is that Vernon Edwards had no involvement whatsoever in Darrent Williams’ homicide.”
Denver police found Hicks’ abandoned Tahoe, spray-painted dark gray, in the Green Valley Ranch neighborhood about three days after Williams was killed.
Hicks was in custody on a separate drug charge the night Williams was killed.
Attempts to reach Williams’ family for comment were unsuccessful.
Staff writer Felisa Cardona can be reached at 303-954-1219 or fcardona@denverpost.com.
This article has been corrected in this online archive. Originally, due to a reporting error, it gave an incorrect neighborhood where police found a sport utility vehicle related to the Williams homicide. The SUV was found in Green Valley Ranch.
