A Colorado man who faced two first-degree murder charges for shooting and killing two aggressors during a road-rage incident has finally had all charges dropped against him.
In June 2023, Stephan Long was driving on Interstate 25 in Denver when two men—brothers Blake and Damon Lucas—pulled up beside next to him on the highway, yelled at him and then swerved in front of his car and came to a stop. One of the brothers, Blake, then jumped out of the passenger side of the vehicle he was traveling in and attacked Long through his open window. At that point, Long grabbed a handgun he had in his car and shot him in self-defense. His brother Damon exited the driver’s side of his vehicle and grabbed onto the driver’s side of Long’s car as he was trying to get away, at which point Long shot him as well. Long then fled the scene and didn’t call 911, mitigating factors that likely led to the initial charges. Complicating the issue, Long is black and the Lucas brothers were white.
Following the incident, Long was immediately arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder, one of which was dropped not long afterward. He spent months in jail before finally being released on bond.
On Aug. 21—14 months after the shooting—the Denver district attorney finally dropped the remaining murder charge against Long, ending a long nightmare that turned his life upside down.
“After a careful and comprehensive review of all the evidence in the case—which included numerous consultations with members of my office—and after applying Colorado law to the evidence, I have concluded that we could not prove Mr. Long’s guilt to a jury beyond a reasonable doubt,” Denver DA Beth McCann said in a released statement. “The evidence establishes a strong and valid self-defense claim pursuant to Colorado law. As a result, we will ask the court to dismiss the remaining charges against Mr. Long. This was an extremely difficult and heart-wrenching decision but, ultimately, in my opinion, the correct one.”
Following the decision, the Denver Justice Project, which had been advocating for charges to be dropped, voiced support for the decision.
“This dismissal represents the justice Stephan deserved from the very beginning,” the organization said in a released statement. “Unfortunately, the delayed injustice he has endured throughout his criminal proceedings has brought to light significant systemic inadequacies and racial disparities in the application of self-defense laws, particularly when Black men are forced to defend themselves against white aggressors.”
The organization also said it was hopeful the Long case might change the way some law enforcement issues are handled in the future.
“It is our hope that this dismissal not only rectifies the wrongs done to Stephan but also serves as a crucial step toward addressing these broader issues,” the group said. “We believe this case could set an important precedent in the legal system, paving the way for fairer and more equitable treatment for all.”
For his part, Long was thrilled to have the charges dropped and the cloud removed from overhead.
“First and foremost, I want to give all glory to our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ,” Long said upon the dismissal of the charges. “Without him, nothing would have been possible.”
A sad situation but people who get out of their cars and attack other drivers should expect to be shot by their intended victims. attacking others should be dangerous.
Agreed. Hilarious how they tried to slip race in there like it was in any way relevant.
Kind of made me wonder why he phrased it this way. “This was an extremely difficult and heart-wrenching decision but, ultimately, in my opinion, the correct one.” If it’s the correct decision what’s so freaking heart wrenching about it?
Did the prosecution try to portray the Lucas brothers as “good ol’ boys who never meaned no harm” and “just funnin’ around”?
as “good ol’ boys who never meaned no harm” and “just funnin’ around”?
And “Someday the mountain might get him but the law never will…”
Being black or white has nothing to do with this.
“Being black or white has nothing to do with this.”
The question might be whether a white who shot two blacks, in same circumstance, would have spent 14 months under investigation?
The Denver Justice Project might should have had such comparison directly at hand in their statement.
Sounds like the State owes the man for his time. He couldn’t work, his reputation was maligned, and it may take a while for him to find suitable employment due to the States error.
The mention of race was relevant. Black man shoots white guys. A lot of people would prejudge without considering facts. That was Longs reasoning in not reporting the crime against him when he left the scene.
“States error.”
?
there wasn’t any “error”. they did not spend 12 -14 months to show it was self defense, they spent 12-14 months trying to figure out how to prosecute him in a sham trial and put him in prison. and then finally came to the conclusion they couldn’t do it and get away with it.
it’s not like the facts of the case changed. if it was self defense now it was self defense then. it does not take 12-14 months to determine if the facts support self defense.
that is not an ‘error’, it was intentional.
Preach
From my perspective, as a motorcyclist (only, don’t own a car), there are two types of drivers. The ones passively trying to kill me and the ones doing it actively. What self defense claims would I have against the active ones?
Roger that sentiment.
Every time i ride I assume all other vehicle drivers are out to kill me.
I trust no one, even after eye contact and them waving me thru. Rule #4
: Situational Awareness
it’s almost like some of ’em have a heads up aiming system in their cars that’s locked on to you.
“Every time i ride I assume all other vehicle drivers are out to kill me.”
Wouldn’t that be a prudent presumption for anyone operating an automobile or bike, all the time?
I am a bicycle rider and it’s even worse for us….everything is trying to get us.