A Denver man has admitted to killing 25-year-old Leonel Silva-Perez in a Jefferson Park alley and now faces a possible decades-long prison sentence.
Rafael Acosta-Hernandez pleaded guilty Thursday in Denver District Court to one count of second-degree murder and could receive up to 38 years behind bars. Sentencing is set for July 10, closing in on the end of a case that started with gunfire behind homes in the 2600 block of North Zuni Street on March 6, 2025.
Prosecutors and court officials confirmed the plea deal and potential sentence range, according to The Denver Post.
How Police Say the Shooting Unfolded
Authorities say an argument between Acosta-Hernandez and Silva-Perez escalated into gunfire in the alley behind North Zuni Street. Surveillance footage helped investigators identify a suspect, and witnesses later followed the vehicle seen leaving the scene, according to local reporting…