Ohio family mourns woman shot dead in Denver

DENVER — An Ohio family is mourning the death of a 23-year-old woman who was shot and killed in Denver late last month. The incident occurred near East Kentucky Avenue and South Dexter Street in the southwest part of the city.

The victim was identified by her family as Kelsey Roberts-Gariety.

“Our parents were never around, so we always supported each other. We were very close. She was very close to a lot of people,” said Roberts-Gariety’s sister Kylie Al-Nubu’at.

“Yes, everyone who met her loved her, everyone,” added her other sister, Kayla Ratleff.

The two sisters described Roberts-Gariety as a young woman with a big heart. She loved animals and dreamed of one day opening a cat cafe. Roberts-Gariety moved to Denver with her husband a few years ago, but on June 29, everything changed.

“I remember saying no because it was so impossible,” Al-Nubu’at added, fighting back tears. “It’s impossible that her kind-hearted soul could have just disappeared.”

Denver police responded to a call about a gunshot at an apartment near East Kentucky and South Dexter streets. When they arrived, they found Roberts-Gariety dead from a gunshot wound.

Court documents further state that Roberts-Gariety’s husband later came home and told police that there was only one person in town who knew where they lived and that he had been having “problems with that person.”

Her husband identified that man as Earnest Cunningham. An affidavit said Cunningham worked with Roberts-Gariety’s husband and was fired for failing to show up.

He then began calling Roberts-Gariety’s husband and threatening him.

The arrest affidavit further states that a witness saw a man running from the area of ​​the shooting and took video of the person running away in the car. The license plate was traced to Earnest Cunningham. Police arrested Cunningham shortly afterward.

“I don’t know, it still doesn’t feel really real because the way she left, she just didn’t deserve it from anyone,” Ratleff said.

“Under other circumstances, there would have been a funeral now and we would have answers. But this lingering pain and questions about why are still there and we have no idea,” said Al-Nubu’at.

These sisters may never know exactly why this happened, but they vow to never stop fighting for it.

“I want justice for my little sister. I will not stop until my sister gets justice,” Al-Nubu’at continued. “Her family loves her and they will be here forever screaming her name.”

Cunningham is charged with first-degree murder and is due back in court on August 2.

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