Donald Ray Young
Agency patch
Detective

Donald Ray Young

Denver Police Department — Denver, CO
Felonious
End of Watch May 8, 2005
Age 43
Tour of Duty 12 yrs
The Vigil Panel 153 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Detective Donald Young was shot and killed at a rental hall on West Mississippi Street.

He and another officer were in uniform, working an off-duty job at a private celebration, when a man approached both officers from behind and opened fire on them in an unprovoked attack. The shooting occurred at approximately 1:00 a.m. as patrons were leaving as the event ended. Detective Young was killed, and the second officer was wounded.

The suspect fled the scene but was captured on June 5, 2005, in Culiacan on the western coast of Mexico. U.S. Marshals and Mexican authorities located and arrested him without incident. The suspect was sentenced to 80 years in prison on October 25, 2005.

Detective Young had served with the Denver Police Department for 12 years and was assigned to the Fugitive / Bomb Unit.

Survivors

He is survived by his wife, two young daughters, and a son.

In Our Keeping

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Stewardship
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Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
August 2, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

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Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Detective Young gave the Denver Police Department 12 years.
Thank you for your service to the Denver community. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Detective Young.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Police Department
Location Denver, Denver County, CO
Platform Identity dpd.denver.co.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch May 8, 2005
Tour of Duty 12 yrs
Age 43
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Donald is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
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Compare against
I

Time

In 2005, 73 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 96th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Donald was 43. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38. Donald had served 12 years; the middle length of service was 6 years.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

May holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Sundays: 15.2%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun; unknown type, in 9.5% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

Denver Police Department has 74 officers remembered here, Donald among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Detective Donald Ray Young

Denver Police Department · End of Watch May 8, 2005

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 10-W

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