A young man gunned down outside a North Park Hill home Wednesday morning has been identified as Jordan Nelson, who turned 21 on Nov. 2.
The Denver Office of Medical Examiner determined that the manner of death was “homicide”.
According to witnesses and Denver police, multiple shots were fired at Nelson as he sat in his car outside a home at 2915 N. Pontiac St.
John White, spokesman for the Denver Police Department, said that detectives canvassed the area on Wednesday, talking to witnesses.
He said the investigation is continuing. No suspects have been identified and police are not sure if the person who shot Nelson was on foot or fired from a passing car.
According to residents of the neighborhood, there has been some gang activity in the area.
However, White said that he has “not heard that this homicide has any gang involvement.”
A woman, who said her mother lives at 2915 N. Pontiac St., said Nelson had spent the night at a different home in the neighborhood and had just arrived at the house to visit his cousin.
She described Nelson as a nice guy.
“He was a friendly person. He was always high-spirited. He would never cause trouble,” she said.
A witness said she heard four shots and saw Nelson running from the car before collapsing on the front porch of the home.
Twenty months earlier – on April 24, 2009 – James Allen Woodard III was shot to death in the same home at 2915 N. Pontiac.
Woodard was shot by his girlfriend, Tatianna Manon-Davis.
According to Lynn Kimbrough, spokeswoman for the Denver district attorney’s office, Woodard III and Manon-Davis were involved in a heated argument. When Woodard turned to go into the home’s kitchen, Manon-Davis got a gun and shot him.
Police arriving at the scene, said that Manon-Davis was hysterical and admitted shooting Woodard.
She pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and received a 34-year prison term, according to Kimbrough.
A witness to Wednesday’s shooting said she thought she heard a firecracker go off shortly before 10 a.m. Wednesday.
Then she heard a second “pop” and ran to her door. She heard two more gunshots, and as she looked out, she saw Nelson running from his car toward the white bungalow.
She said he collapsed on the front porch. As she ran across the street to check on Nelson, she heard a vehicle driving away fast.
People with information about the case are asked to call CRIMESTOPPERS at 720-913-7867. Information leading to arrest and charging of an individual can result in a reward up to $2,000.Howard Pankratz: 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com.
