on december 27th, less than a full 48 hours after christmas, a targeted murder spree ripped through the denver and lakewood areas at the hands of a white supremacist. the denver tattoo community is grieving mentors and friends, children are grieving parents, and families are facing the unthinkable tragedy of burying loved ones instead of making new years plans with them. and none of this was random.
the attack began at the long-standing tattoo shop Sol Tribe on 1st and Broadway in Denver. the owner, Alicia Cardenas, was one of his first victims.
Alicia was born and raised here and was a central figure in our tattoo, mural, and indigenous communities. she owned her first shop at 19, helped to pioneer hygiene in the tattoo and piercing industry throughout the past 20 years, and opened the doors for so many in our city. i only met her in passing a handful of time, i think we may have spoken twice, and just from that i can say the warmth and strength she radiated was palpable. she was truly the matriarch of the denver tattoo community, and she turned the process of tattooing into a ritual, transmogrifying pain into power. she leaves behind her father and a 12 year old daughter. as her father said, she was like nobody you'd ever meet.
the second victim of Sol Tribe is Alyssa Gunn-Maldonado. She was a beloved yoga teacher in Denver who introduced many to their practice, and the loving wife of Jimmy, a long time artist at the shop that grew his career alongside Alicia's. Jimmy is currently hospitalized with multiple gun shot wounds. He is expected to recover, but he will have to recover without his wife, or his friend. Jimmy and Alyssa have a 12 year old son. these were good, good people who opened their arms to many and never hesitated to offer help.
after this, the killer murdered 67 year old Michael Swinyard in his own apartment, following a plan that he detailed in a book that he PUBLISHED in 2018. the same book named many of the targets in the attack. the killer owned a shop that went under in 2017, and knew most everyone involved.
he then targeted another shop owner, Justin Costilow, in his own home as well. Justin has been recovering from a near fatal motorcycle accident that has kept him from working, despite needing to support his shop, girlfriend, and newborn daughter. LUCKILY, the three managed to escape and find safety at World Tattoo on 6th, but Justin's leg was severely affected and his recovery has been set back. in addition, the killer set fire to both his car and van full of tattoo supplies, valued at $50k, that Jeremy was intending on selling to make rent and support his family. the killer previously left Jeremy threatening flyers and information about his book, where Jeremy was one of those named.
the killer then drove to Lucky 13 Tattoo on Colfax and Kipling in Lakewood. i once worked in a store RIGHT behind this shop, that's how close to home this all is. the killer walked in, murdered Danny Scofield aka Dano Blair, and left in the span of 10 seconds. Dano was also a friend and mentor to many, and a father of three children. his ex wife described him as a family man who loved everyone regardless of their story or origin. his shopmates have lost "an awesome human being, a great father, son, and brother."
the killer then fled to the belmar shopping district, where he shot a young hotel clerk, Sarah Steck. he did not know her, but had a previous vendetta against the Hyatt where she worked. tragically, she died from her injuries the following morning. she's been described as a beautiful, kind, and loving person who would go out of her way to help people. she had an infectious laugh and loved kittens, art, and music.
the killer was FINALLY neutralized after he shot a police officer in belmar, in the street corner where i fucking went to cosmetology school. police reported the initial shooting on broadway, and then encrypted their scanners, and provided NO updates to the situation until after he had died. and it was just to say an officer had been shot. no notification of additional shootings, no warning of tattoo shops being targeted; everyone in the scene had to rely on each other to learn information and notify families. the police also gave conflicting initial statements: the killer had "been on their radar" in the past and they had looked into him at least twice; but also, he had no criminal or arrest record, so the police never had reason to suspect him.
this is purely my own speculation, but considering Denver is quite literally built on a foundation of white surpremacy, i would not be surprised if he had friends on the inside who enabled him.
because of this man, children will be entering the new year without parents who should be here. parents will be entering the new year having to grapple with outliving their children who should be here. lovers are walking forward without their partners who should be here. the outpouring of support, care, remembrance and celebration of these lives show how important and beloved they were.
finally, because there's no fucking protocol on your boss being killed by a white supremacist in your own fucking shop, sol tribe will be closed for the foreseeable future while the matter is settled. all 12 artists have had to cancel all upcoming appointments and will be out of work in the wake of this. someone i consider a mentor got his start in denver at this shop, because of alicia. i cherish my ink from this shop, have fond memories of my friend champing through her rib tattoo here; i encountered alicia for the first time when she poked well-meaning fun at how the ribs are a bitch. ice cream next door at sweet action. drinks at sputnik down the road, shows at hi-dive, late nights sobering up at piehole back next to sol tribe. broadway is our local haunt, and we're all doing what we can to support our community; we are all one tribe.
