November 26th 2024.
A judge in Adams County District Court faced a challenging decision on Tuesday as he was asked to consider reducing the $5 million bail for Lumumba Sayers Sr., a prominent community activist from Aurora who has been charged with first-degree murder and menacing. Sayers, 46, is accused of seeking revenge for his son's death by killing 28-year-old Malcolm Watson on August 10th.
Judge Jeffrey Ruff expressed his concerns about the overwhelming support shown for Sayers by his community, citing a previous court hearing that turned into a chaotic scene due to conflicting emotions between the victim's family and Sayers' supporters. Ruff pointed out that these very same people who are supporting Sayers could also potentially be the ones who hold him accountable and keep him in line, which is a cause for concern.
Sayers' defense attorney, Megan Downing, argued that his bail should be reduced to no more than $500,000, highlighting his strong ties to the community and lack of prior criminal history. She also raised concerns about his deteriorating health and safety in jail, citing an incident where he was attacked and hospitalized with serious injuries. On the other hand, prosecutor Laura Anderson argued that Sayers would pose a danger to the community if released, pointing to his confession on a recorded exchange.
According to investigators, Sayers shot Watson at a birthday party for Watson's son in a Commerce City park. Two witnesses reported seeing Sayers approach Watson and shoot him multiple times, while another witness recorded him attempting to plant a gun under Watson's body after the killing. The police believe this was a planned murder in retaliation for Sayers' son's death in 2023. Although no one was convicted of murder in that case, the alleged shooter was a friend of Watson's.
Sayers Jr. was known for his anti-violence activism and ran a gym with his father in Aurora dedicated to preventing gun violence. The judge also took into account the recent passage of Amendment I, which allows judges to hold people without bail when charged with first-degree murder, as he made his ruling on Tuesday. He acknowledged that voters have expressed their desire for cases like this to be held without bail, stating that the entire community is saying, "We don't really feel safe with people charged with these crimes out walking amongst us."
Ultimately, the judge decided to maintain the $5 million bail, citing concerns about Sayers' potential danger to the community if released. This case serves as a reminder of the devastating impact of gun violence and the importance of addressing it in our communities.
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