Golden Cue Slaying Victim Identified
The victim of a weekend slaying at the Golden Cue Bar in Colorado Springs has been identified, and a suspect has been arrested and charged.
The shooting happened around 1 a.m Saturday. Kendrick James, 23, a Fort Carson soldier, died. Another victim, Autumn Santos, 27, was injured, taken to the hospital and later released. Police said both were shot outside the bar near Hancock Expressway and Academy Boulevard.
Dwight Gordon, who turns 27 in August, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. Police said two people, including James’ girlfriend, Bria Burrell, identified Gordon as the shooter.
Much of the evidence against Gordon came from Burrell, who said she saw Gordon hit one of James’ friends, which started a confrontation that spilled into the parking lot and was watched by a large crowd.
Burrell said Gordon pulled out a handgun, fired a shot and then shot James when he stepped in front of her.
The victims traveled in a private vehicle to Fort Carson’s Evans Army Hospital, police said, where guards at the security gate stopped the victims and called for an ambulance. Police said James died while being transported to Memorial Hospital.
Gordon is not a Fort Carson soldier, said post officials, and does not have a prior criminal record. He was arrested around 9 a.m. Saturday when he tried to flee from his apartment at Cheyenne Crest on Westmeadow Drive.
Burrell and an apartment resident identified Gordon as having the nickname “Shorty” and living at the complex with his brother. Burrell said the Gordons were about to be evicted from their apartment, but did not specify why.
Police said Gordon initially told them his last name was Johnson, and confessed to being at the bar but denied firing his gun. Gordon told police he blacked out because he believed someone had put something in his drink.
Police said there were hundreds of people at the bar at the time of the shooting, and that investigators have been interviewing bar patrons to gather more information.
The homicide is the 12th this year in Colorado Springs.
Kendrick James:
