Police identify suspect in officer’s slaying

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The Associated Press
May 10, 2005

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DENVER — Police said Tuesday they had identified a suspect in the weekend slaying of an off-duty police officer working security at a dance hall.

The man was identified as Raul Garcia-Gomez, 19, police spokesman Sonny Jackson said. He said Gomez’s whereabouts were unknown and that he was considered armed and extremely dangerous.

Detective Donald R. Young, 43, a married father of two and a recipient of the police Medal of Honor, was shot three times from behind early Sunday, police said. Detective John H. Bishop was treated for a minor gunshot wound in his back and released.

The motive was not immediately known. Mayor John Hickenlooper called the attack “cold-blooded murder” and police Chief Gerry Whitman called it an ambush.

Young and Bishop were off-duty but in uniform. Both were shot at about 1 a.m. Sunday while providing security outside a rental hall often used for birthday and baptism parties. Police said two other officers who were nearby rushed to the aid of the fallen detectives and saw a man fleeing with what appeared to be a weapon.

Jackson said the suspect may be driving a white, four-door Dodge Neon. CrimeStoppers offered a $50,000 reward for information.

Young, a 12-year veteran, graduated from the police academy in December 1993 and had worked with the vice-narcotics and domestic violence units. He was assigned to the fugitive-bomb squad when he died.