The family of an 18-year-old Army enlistee who was gunned down in Commerce City late Sunday is pleading for clues from the community that might help solve the case.
Dijoun Quinn, a recent graduate of Adams City High School, was shot multiple times as he walked along the 6500 block of Holly Street at about 9:30 p.m., according to police.
Commerce City police held a news conference Thursday with the teen’s grandfather Leander Quinn; grandmother Saunder Campbell; and mother, Keona Miller.
Police said Dijoun Quinn was not involved in any crime they are aware of and that they don’t believe he was involved in gang activity.
“What we have here laid out in front of us is a puzzle. The problem is, we don’t have every piece,” said Commerce City police Officer Chris Dickey. “We think there are members of the community, in the outlying communities, who have those pieces.”
The family displayed a large posterboard at the conference that read “WE WILL MISS U” and was covered in handwritten notes.
“You’ve been taken way too young. Our prayers,” read one note.
Leander Quinn said he raised his grandson since the boy was about 3 months old.
“I kept him busy so he wouldn’t get himself into trouble,” Quinn said.
Quinn said the family dealt with normal family troubles and described his grandson as a normal teenager who loved sports, especially basketball, baseball and football.
Two basketballs covered in signatures were on display, along with a large sneaker with the note, “Keep it real big brother” written on it.
Baby photos of Dijoun Quinn also were on display.
“He was making the right choices in life. Somebody came and ended all that for him,” Leander Quinn said.
Quinn was emotional at the news conference as he begged the community for help finding the person or people responsible for his grandson’s slaying.
“Someone please help this family with some type of closure, with some kind of understanding,” Quinn said.
Anyone with information can call Detective Bryan VanderMeer at 303-289-3629 or the Commerce City Tip Line at 303-289-3626.
