Denver, Springs officials explore any similarities

By Hector Gutierrez
Denver Rocky Mountain News Staff Writer

Colorado Springs police and Denver detectives are trying to determine whether the assaults and slayings of homeless men in both cities are connected.

"It's just a shot in the dark to see if there's any similarities or not," Colorado Springs Lt. Skip Arms said Wednesday.

Colorado Springs detectives will continue to contact assault investigators in Denver to share notes.

"So far there doesn't appear to be any connections between theirs and ours," he said.

Colorado Springs police said they think a group of teen-agers or young adults armed with knives and rocks attacked and beat one man earlier this month. Another transient was beaten in August, and witnesses told police that several young people were involved.

The body of another transient was found under a bridge more than a week ago. Arms said detectives also were investigating an unsolved homicide of a homeless person earlier this year.

Last year the bodies of seven transients were found in lower downtown Denver. Several other homeless men were beaten.

Only one Denver homicide case has been solved; a 19-year-old man and 16-year-old boy were convicted. A 20-year-old man is awaiting trial in the case.