If only someone who saw 17-year-old Marcus Mason gunned down on a Denver street corner in 2007 would come forward, his parents believe they finally would have some answers.
Just maybe, those answers would ease the grief of losing their only son.
“I would just like to know,” said Josephine Baez, his mother. “Was it an initiation? Was he just bored? Not that it would make a difference for him, but I would just like to know.”
Mason’s parents have shared their story as part of a new public service announcement on behalf of Metro Denver Crime Stoppers. The video was rolled out Wednesday along with an increase in reward money for those who provide tips that solve gang-related crimes.
Now, tipsters who provide information to Denver’s Crime Stoppers hotline could receive up to $4,000, double the usual reward.
The video and increased reward money are part of a massive effort to in the city.
At a press conference announcing the Crime Stoppers programs, Mayor Michael Hancock said he and other city officials were hard at work to find answers.
Fifteen cameras have been installed in target neighborhoods and police recently passed out 400 lights to illuminate homes in the problem areas, he said.
And, 70 people from the faith-based community recently attended a meeting to add their support to the effort, Hancock said.
This year, there have been and 12 are gang-related, Chief Robert White said. The city is on track to have one of its most violent years since 2010.
Arrests have been made in one case.
Denver police and District Attorney Mitch Morrissey have said a lack of witnesses has made it .
Some witnesses don’t report crimes because they don’t want to be accused of snitching by fellow gang members. Others want to take paybacks into their own hands. And some people are too afraid of gangs to speak up.
White said there are very few crimes that don’t have witnesses.
“This is a plea to the entire community,” he said.
Noelle Phillips: 303-954-1661, nphillips@denverpost.com or twitter.com/Noelle_Phillips
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Tips about unsolved crimes can be reported by calling 720-913-7867.
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