Reward increased for information in deadly Downtown Aquarium shooting

Brooke Williams
·2 min read

DENVER (KDVR) — The family of a 19-year-old killed in a shooting that happened near the Downtown Aquarium on Valentine’s Day has increased the reward for information to $3,000, Metro Denver Crime Stoppers said in a release.

The Denver Police Department said the victim, Dacien Salazar, appeared to be the intended target of the shooting.

Valentine’s Day is Roxanna Coca’s favorite holiday, but tragically, it is also the day her son was shot and killed at the aquarium. She was out to dinner when she got the call that Salazar had been shot.

“I remember standing outside of the restaurant and I’m just screaming, I’m screaming for my son,” Coca told FOX31’s Rogelio Mares.

Past coverage: Police identify 19-year-old killed in Valentine’s Day aquarium shooting

On the day of his death, Salazar had traveled from southern Colorado to Denver to spend the day with some friends.

“I mean, they took pictures there at the aquarium,” Coca said. “They touched the stingrays. It was a normal day.”

Metro Denver Crime Stoppers said Salazar was struck by gunfire from a moving vehicle, and “this does not appear to be a random act.”

Salazar’s family has increased the reward with an additional $1,000 donated by his grandfather. The family, along with the Denver Police Department and Metro Denver Crime Stoppers, are asking the public for help in the investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867. Tipsters can remain anonymous.

Salazar’s mother Roxanne Coca described him as a “goofy big brother” and a lover of music.

“It’s not going to bring my son back, but to heal a small piece of my heart would be to be able to face who did this and ask them that question: Why? Why did you do this?” Coca said.

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Metro Denver Crime Stoppers asked anyone with any information, no matter how insignificant it may seem, to come forward. The family and investigators believe that the community’s help could lead to a breakthrough in the case.

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