- Local
- Community
- Journalism
Support the independent voice of Denver and help keep the future of Westword free.
Back in February 2007, after the murder of Darrent Williams had Denver on edge about gangs, Michael Asberry told Luke Turf how tough it was to get out of the gang life for this story. And Asberry knew all about gang life: He'd started the Crips here back when he was sixteen, in 1986. And by his twentieth birthday, Asberry was doing time in prison.
In the years since, Asberry was in and out of jail, at one point getting a big break to work with Jim Brown's anti-gang program in California. But by early 2007, he was back in jail in Denver. Still, Asberry was due to get out soon, and talked of going straight. "There's no lost causes," he told us.
But there are lives forever lost. Asberry did get out of jail, and was reportedly trying to stay straight. But early last Saturday morning, he was shot to death in front of an Aurora apartment building. The investigation is ongoing. -- Patricia Calhoun
Keep Westword Free... Since we started Westword, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Denver, and we would like to keep it that way. Offering our readers free access to incisive coverage of local news, food and culture. Producing stories on everything from political scandals to the hottest new bands, with gutsy reporting, stylish writing, and staffers who've won everything from the Society of Professional Journalists' Sigma Delta Chi feature-writing award to the Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism. But with local journalism's existence under siege and advertising revenue setbacks having a larger impact, it is important now more than ever for us to rally support behind funding our local journalism. You can help by participating in our "I Support" membership program, allowing us to keep covering Denver with no paywalls.
