Investigators said a passenger fired once at a scooter rider stopped at 18th and Stout streets.
DENVER, Colo. — Denver police say a white SUV that sped away after a single gunshot became the key lead in an attempted murder case involving a scooter rider shot in the neck downtown.
The shooting injured Nico Francis late April 3 near 18th and Stout streets and led to the arrest of Anthony Davon Apodaca, 31. Investigators say the attack was unprovoked and followed a short confrontation between Francis and a passenger in the SUV. Apodaca has been charged with attempted first-degree murder, and his release on a $75,000 bond has become part of the public debate around the case.
The police response began just before 11:45 p.m., when officers were called to reports of gunfire in the central business district. They found Francis wounded at the intersection and began developing suspect information while he was taken for emergency care. Witnesses told investigators they heard one shot and saw the SUV leave. Officers soon located a white Chevrolet Tahoe matching the description and stopped it. Multiple people inside were detained. According to reports on the arrest affidavit, one passenger identified Apodaca as the person who fired the shot.
Investigators then worked backward through the moments before the shooting. The affidavit described a passenger in the SUV yelling at several people near a bus stop before focusing on Francis, who was riding a scooter. A witness said the passenger asked Francis whether he had a problem. Francis told police he answered that he did not. The SUV later pulled near Francis at a red light at 18th and Stout streets. Police said the passenger fired once, striking Francis in the neck, as the vehicle left the area.
Francis’ account added detail to that timeline. He said he had left the Santa Fe Art Walk around 11:30 p.m. and was riding toward Colfax Avenue to meet friends. The first confrontation, he said, happened after he saw the SUV passenger yelling at people on the sidewalk. Francis said the passenger got out with a gun and acted aggressively before returning to the vehicle. Francis continued on his route, but the SUV came up beside him again at the next light. “I tried calming him down,” Francis said. He said he told the passenger he did not know him and did not want trouble.
The shot left Francis unable to use his right arm, he said. He described hearing a loud pop, seeing blood and feeling a shock through his body. His phone became difficult to use because it was covered in blood. He said he tried to get help from people in another vehicle, then lost consciousness. A bystander later pressed on the wound and helped him call 911. Francis said that aid likely kept him from bleeding to death before paramedics arrived. He has called the man who helped him a lifesaver and has said he wants to thank him.
Medical details from Francis’ public account show why the shooting became a near-fatal case. He said doctors told him the bullet missed major arteries in his neck by a very small distance. It passed through the shoulder area, damaged his scapula and left nerve problems that affected his arm. Francis said he was unsure whether he would regain full use of the arm. He also said he expected to miss work and needed help with daily tasks after leaving the hospital. The injury changed the case from a late-night gunfire report into a long recovery for a man who said he had been randomly targeted.
The arrest affidavit, as described in local reports, connected Apodaca to the shooting through witness statements, the vehicle stop and surveillance footage. Police said the clothing worn by the alleged shooter matched what Apodaca was wearing. Public reports did not identify any prior relationship between Apodaca and Francis. They also did not report a dispute before that night. Francis has said he believes the passenger wanted a fight and then wanted to shoot someone, but police have not announced a formal motive.
The court process began soon after the arrest. Apodaca faced an attempted first-degree murder charge. The Denver District Attorney’s Office sought a $100,000 cash-only bond, according to statements reported by local media. A judge set bond at $75,000 with surety available. The release conditions included maximum home confinement, GPS monitoring and firearms relinquishment. Francis said he was alarmed that Apodaca was able to leave custody quickly. “Him getting out on bond is just crazy,” Francis said in one interview. Prosecutors and the court will continue handling bond, evidence and scheduling issues as the case advances.
The location added another layer to the investigation. The shooting happened near 18th and Stout streets, an area with light-rail platforms, office buildings, bus stops and regular late-night movement. The first reported confrontation involved people waiting or standing near the street. The second involved Francis stopped at a red light on a scooter. Because the encounter unfolded in a public corridor, investigators looked to witness accounts and video to establish the path of the SUV and the actions of the passenger. Police have not publicly said whether more video exists from nearby buildings, vehicles or transit areas.
Francis has said the attack changed his view of downtown Denver. He moved to the city in 2020 and often defended the area when others called it unsafe. He said he used to tell people to go downtown, eat out and enjoy the city. After being shot, he said he wondered whether he wanted to stay in the city at all. Still, his clearest comments have focused on the randomness of the attack, the fear caused by Apodaca’s release and the unknown bystander who helped keep him alive.
The investigation has produced one attempted murder charge, but key questions remain about motive and the other people in the vehicle. Future filings are expected to show how prosecutors plan to use witness accounts, video and the SUV stop.
Author note: Last updated May 6, 2026.