Raul Gomez-Garcia, convicted of killing police Detective Donald Young and wounding his partner, Jack Bishop, was sentenced Wednesday to the maximum of 80 years in prison after Young’s widow, Bishop and the judge labeled the killer a “coward.”
Gomez-Garcia had refused to attend his own sentencing, infuriating Bishop and widow Kelly Young.
“He was a coward then; he is a coward now,” Kelly Young said as she stood in tears and told of the pain Gomez-Garcia inflicted on her and her two young daughters, Kelsey and Kourtney.
“I’m shocked that Gomez-Garcia is not here,” said Denver District Judge Larry Naves. “He approached the officers from the back in a cowardly fashion and the fact he can’t face the witnesses (today) is consistent with that kind of cowardly act.”
Bishop and Young were ambushed on May 8, 2005, as they provided security at the Salon Ocampo social hall, 1733 W. Mississippi Ave. Young died at the scene. Bishop survived.
Gomez-Garcia, an illegal immigrant, then fled to Mexico, where he was arrested June 4, 2005. He was brought back after Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey promised the Mexican government he wouldn’t seek the death penalty or file a charge that carries a life sentence.
Gomez-Garcia had a right under Colorado law not to be present Wednesday. But that didn’t soothe the normally mild-mannered Bishop.
“With all due respect, victims’ rights are not taken into account,” he said. “I think for myself and Kelly, he should be seated there to hear what we have to say.”
Prior to the sentencing, Gomez-Garcia was brought into the courtroom and asked by Naves if he wanted to attend the hearing. Etched into the hair on the back of Garcia-Gomez’ head was the number 13.
Tim Twining of the Denver District Attorney’s Gang Unit said the letter “M” is often associated with the Surenos street gang. It is the 13th letter of the alphabet, and is usually used by members to denote “murder” or “Mexican.”
An infuriated Bishop said Gomez-Garcia was using the number to thumb his nose at the proceeding and declare his gang affiliation.
“His lawyers were trying to stay in front of him so we couldn’t see clearly what he had in the back of his head,” Morrissey said. “But I could see the 13 and it is an affiliation with an L.A. gang that he had. It was not something that came up during the course of the trial but obviously it is something he is very proud of today.”
Defense lawyer Fernando Freyre said he couldn’t comment directly on the matter.
“I will say that when someone knows they are going to spend the rest of their lives in prison, they often do things to ensure their own safety,” Freyre said, adding that in prison, “people sometimes tell you how to dress.”
Sgt. Frank Gale, of the Denver Sheriff’s Department, said on Tuesday, Gomez-Garcia asked for some clippers to cut his hair so he could be presentable in court. He said Gomez-Garcia’s cellmate cut his hair and Wednesday morning deputies discovered the 13 on his head.
Gale said that because of potential lawsuits, authorities couldn’t shave the 13 off or order Gomez-Garcia to get rid of the number.
Bishop called the shooting a “horrific case” where Young paid the ultimate sacrifice.
“I serve in two roles – I’m a victim and a police officer,” Bishop said. “Donnie and I were shot. It was a cold-blooded and cowardly shooting. (Gomez-Garcia) chose to do it, planned it and then did it. I’m furious with what he is getting away with here.”
He recalled being with Young as he died and the trauma it has caused. “When you are there with a good friend and you talk to him for the last time, that is something that doesn’t go well with me,” Bishop said.
Kelly Young said that Gomez-Garcia showed his true colors the night he ambushed the officers and when he refused to be present at the hearing.
“Donnie was a brave police officer. He took away from me and my girls … the most important person in our lives. I lost my soulmate and the person I intended to spend the rest of my life with,” Young said.
Her girls, she said, lost their buddy, soccer partner and playmate.
A Denver jury convicted Gomez-Garcia of second-degree murder and attempted second-degree murder. He received 48 years in Young’s death and 32 years in the shooting of Bishop.
Naves said that during the trial Gomez-Garcia perjured himself and represents a danger to society. “He has shown by his conduct he is a risk to resort to extreme violence at the slightest provocation,” the judge said.
The judge read a letter from Kourtney Young, 14, one of the officer’s daughters.
“Why did he pull the trigger?” she asked. “The way I see it is that Gomez-Garcia had no self control, no feeling. He couldn’t handle the fact that my dad was the bigger man and maybe embarrassed him in front of his friends.
“But that’s life, it doesn’t make it OK to go shoot someone,” she said.
Staff writer Howard Pankratz can be reached at 303-954-1939 or hpankratz@denverpost.com.
