Murder, Shooting At Denver Cops: Man Sentenced To Life In Prison

DENVER, CO -- For a 21-year-old, Darius Ratcliff of Denver racked up quite a police record. Friday, Ratcliff was sentenced to life for murder and attempted murder in the Nov. 2015 shooting of four people that left one dead. He was also sentenced to 32 years for firing at police officers after a July, 2016 traffic stop. Ratcliffe still faces charges of burglarizing a marijuana dispensary, shooting at more people in a different case and escaping from custody during a hospital transport.

Ratcliff was convicted Dec. 4 after a four-day trial for murder and attempted murder of attendees at a house party, the Denver District Attorney's office said in a statement. Ratcliffe was convicted of shooting into a group of people leaving the party in the 100 block of South Bannock Avenue in November of 2015. One person died from injuries received during the shooting.

Ratcliff was also sentenced Friday after being convicted for shooting at officers in a July, 2016 incident that ended with Ratcliff himself, shot in the abdomen. Denver police officers attempted a traffic stop in the 3300 block of North Olive Street, on a vehicle driven by Ratcliff which matched the description of a vehicle involved in a drive by shooting early that evening, a statement from the Denver DA's office said. Ratcliff eluded officers and fled the vehicle on foot, but was located nearby. According to the DA's office, Ratcliff fired shots at the police officers and who returned fire, striking Ratcliff in the abdomen.

All the sentences are to run consecutively, or life + 128 years, the DA's office said.

Ratcliffe still faces charges for several other crimes, including:

• Charges for allegedly burglarizing a marijuana dispensary on June 3, 2016, in the 4000 block of Jackson Street.
• Four counts of attempted murder and other charges for an alleged shooting on Sep. 27, 2015, in the 3300 block of North Colorado Boulevard.
• One count of escape for allegedly fleeing from police as he was being escorted from the city jail into Denver Health Medical Center on Sep. 23, 2016. Ratcliff was captured moments later.

Image via Denver District Atty's Office