Of course, almost all black-on-white murders are racially motivated.

But at least this one was recognized as such.

CBS Local:

After almost 11 years of investigation, Arapahoe County authorities have arrested Terrell Jones, the 26-year-old man who they believe shot and killed Andrew Graham while trying to rob him in November 2009. Court records show an arrest warrant was issued Tuesday and murder charges were filed against Jones who authorities always believed was the triggerman in the Graham killing, but investigators never had enough evidence or proof to obtain an arrest warrant until this week.

Jones is being charged with one count of first degree murder after deliberation, and one count of felony murder according to court records. He has repeatedly denied to investigators that he killed Andrew Graham.

“It doesn’t bring my son back, but at least he’s being held accountable,” said Cyndi Gelston-Graham, Andrew Graham’s mother. “My husband said he thought nothing would ever happen but I never gave up the faith.”

Graham, 23, was shot and killed in November 2009 as he returned to his home in Centennial from a nearby RTD light rail station. Graham was shot in the back and investigators suspected he was the target of a racially-motivated robbery.

Investigators soon zeroed in on five suspected gang members who they believed were connected to Graham’s death: Terrell Jones, Allen Ford, Kendall Austin, Joseph Martin and Clarissa Lockhart.

A grand jury indicted Ford, Austin, Martin and Lockhart in 2017 with investigators believing those four were accomplices and were present for the murder.

They were all charged with felony murder, conspiracy and racketeering charges. Charges against Kendall Austin were dropped in 2019.

Since then, the remaining three have agreed to plea bargains with prosecutors and have agreed to testify against Jones. Court records show the last of the three to agree to a plea deal was Clarissa Lockhart who pleaded guilty on Feb. 27 to a felony racketeering charge. Other charges against her were dropped. She is scheduled to be sentenced April 24.

Joseph Wayne Washington.

You can always rely on blacks to transform an upbeat party into a blood-soaked crime scene.

KDVR:

An Aurora man described as a drug dealer was sentenced Thursday to 58 years in prison for fatally shooting another man during a party at Cherry Creek State Park two years ago.

Joseph Wayne Washington, 31, was sentenced for the Aug, 13, 2017 death of 26-year-old Jackson Lee Chavez.

In March, a jury found Washington guilty of second-degree murder. The jury also found Washington guilty of witness tampering and numerous counts of possession of drugs with the intent to distribute.

Chavez was at a barbeque and got into an fight with another man. Washington witnessed this then got a gun from his backpack and shot Chavez twice.

After the murder, Washington ran from the scene, ditched his vehicle, got rid of the gun and made plans to leave town.

Investigators from the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office interviewed witnesses, tracked Washington down and arrested him.

Jackson Lee Chavez.