STATEMENT OF PROBABLE CAUSE

Case Number: 2017-505590

Name of Suspect: Raoul Solis Lanius Date of Birth: 02/03/1964
Date and Time of Arrest: 07/31/2017 1:00 A.M.
Charges: 18-3-103(1) Murder in the Second Degree; Class 2 Felony
Date/Time of Offense: 07/31/2017 12:25 A.M.
Location of Offense: 1500 Wynkoop St #102

Officer Completing Statement: Det. Eric Bueno Serial # 00037

Your affiant presents the following facts in establishing probable cause for the arrest of the suspect for
the listed offense:

On July 31, 2017, at approximately 12:29 a.m., Denver Police Officers responded to the area of 15 th
Street and Wynkoop Street, City and County of Denver, Colorado on a call of a stabbing. Upon arrival,
Officer Jose Manriquez, 14084, contacted a Hispanic male wearing a blue shirt covered in blood. The
male was later identified as Raoul Lanius, dob: 02/03/1964. Officer Maniriquez also observed an
unknown black male lying on the ground, not far from where Mr. Lanius was standing. Officer
Maniriquez asked Mr. Lanius what had happened and he said that he had stabbed the unknown black
male. Officer Manriquez advised Mr. Lanius of his Miranda rights and continued to question him
about the incident. According to Mr. Lanius, the unknown black male approached him and his
girlfriend who were sitting on the front steps of the bicycle shop when the black male began to talk to
them. Mr. Lanius said the black male left the area but returned and began to motion with to Mr. Lanius
girlfriend with his finger. Mr. Lanius said he called the black male a Negro. After that, the black
male went at Mr. Lanius like a bulldog. Mr. Lanius said he stabbed the black male in self defense.

The victim was transported to Denver Health Medical Center for further medical treatment. The victim
was pronounced deceased at approximately 1:37 a.m. by Dr. Platnick M.D. Mr. Lanius was also
transported to Denver Health Medical Center for evaluation.

Denver Police Officers located three witnesses at or near the crime scene. The witnesses were
transported to Denver Police Department Headquarters.

At approximately 3:31 a.m., Your affiant conducted an interview with , dob:

th
who explained she was walking toward 15 Street on Wynkoop Street with .
As they reached the corner of 15th and Wynkoop, a dark skin male, covered in blood, asked them to
call 911. Ms. believed the male was either Hispanic or Black and was in his mid to late 30s.
Ms. said she gave her phone to Mr. who called 911.

At approximately 3:52 a.m., Your affiant conducted a follow up interview with , dob:
who said he was walking on Wynkoop St with when a heavy set
Hispanic male covered in blood approached them and said someone had been stabbed and to call 911.
Mr. described the Hispanic male as being worried and nervous. Mr. also noticed an
th
unknown male lying supine motionless on the ground near the corner of 15 Street and Wazee St. Mr.
said the Hispanic male told him 3 to 4 times that someone had been stabbed. Mr.
advised he used cell phone to call 911. Mr. confirmed that the police and
paramedics were attending to the same person who had asked him to call 911.

At approximately 4:21 a.m., Your affiant conducted an interview with , dob: .

Ms. said she had known Raoul (Lanius) for approximately 1 year and confirmed she was with
him during the evening of July 30, 2017. Ms. was shown a single photo of Raoul Lanius and
positively identified him as the same person she was with on July 31, 2017. According to Ms.
they are homeless and she had been staying in a shelter for the past four months. Ms. said she
had previously slept on the porch of bicycle shop at 1500 Wynkoop St and had permission from the
owner to stay there. Ms. also talked about how she and Mr. Lanius had stayed there together but
that he had taken over the spot as his own. On July 31, 2017, they had decided to stay there again and
set up some cardboard to sleep on. Sometime after they set up their stuff to sleep, an unknown male,
possibly in his 30s, 509 170 lbs., wearing blue jeans walked up to them and told them that they were
in his spot and told them to leave. Ms. said they told him to leave and after a while he in fact
walked away but did not leave. Ms. said he was around the corner and motioned with his finger
for her to come to him. At this point, Ms. described how Mr. Lanius had taken a knife out of his
back pack and laid it down next to them. Mr. Lanius said he would protect them. The unknown male
returned and again told them they needed to leave and that was his spot. Shortly after, Ms. said
Mr. Lanius and the unknown male began to fight. Ms. said she had seen men fight before and
she was not afraid or in fear of being injured. After the fighting stopped, Ms. said there was a lot
of blood and didnt see the knife. Ms. did not see anything in the unknown males hands, she
thought it was a fist fight. When asked if Mr. Lanius overreacted, she said yes.

At approximately 8:30 a.m., Your affiant conducted an interview with Raoul Lanius, dob: 02/03/1964.
Mr. Lanius was advised of his Miranda rights which he understood and waived. Mr. Lanius said he
was with his Companion, . They had met up earlier in the evening and left
together. They had ridden the 16 Street Mall Bus and were headed toward 16th and Wazee Street.
th

While on the bus, Mr. Lanius said he found a sewing kit which was left on the bus. Mr. Lanius looked
through the kit and found a 7 inch knife with a pink handle. Mr. Lanius said they got off the bus and
walked to the porch of the bicycle shop at 1500 Wynkoop Street. Mr. Lanius said they were going to
camp there as they had in the past. Mr. Lanius said after approximately 30 to 40 minutes, an unknown
mixed-race male walked up to them and began to tell them that they were in his spot and they needed
to leave. Mr. Lanius said they told him to leave them alone and he briefly walked away but was only
gone for about 2 minutes. When the male returned, he again began to tell them they were in his spot
and they needed to leave. Mr. Lanius said the male and his companion were going back and forth and
eventually he intervened and said, Get the fuck out of here nigger. At this point, Mr. Lanius had
armed himself with the knife from the sewing kit and was holding it in his left hand. The male then ran
up the stairs toward Mr. Lanius. Mr. Lanius confirmed the male did not have anything in his hands and
he believed he was going to be tackled or punched by the enraged male. As the male approached, Mr.
Lanius began to stab the male on his left side. Mr. Lanius said he probably stabbed the male
approximately 10 times and added he stabbed him on the shoulder, under his arm, and on his chest. Mr.
Lanius described the male as approximately 507 120 -130 lbs and was not armed with any weapon.
After the stabbing, the male began to walk away and Mr. Lanius followed. Mr. Lanius said he
encountered a couple walking by and asked them to call 911.

At approximately 8:30 a.m., Detective Michael Martinez attended the postmortem examination of the
victim. During the examination, Dr. Derek Bumgarner M.D. Forensic Pathologist, supervised by Dr.
James Caruso M.D. identified 14 sharp force injuries between the face and torso of the victim. The
victims heart and lung were penetrated. The manner of death was tentatively determined to be a
homicide. The victim was later identified as , dob: .

Detective Louis Estrada, 96050, along with the Denver Police Department Crime Scene Unit,
processed the crime scene located at 1500 Wynkoop Street #102. During a search of the area, a bloody
red handle fix blade knife was found on the ground near the porch of 1500 Wynkoop Street. The
victims clothing was also found near the crime scene.

Based on the above listed facts obtained during the course of the investigation, Your affiant believes
that Raoul Lanius knowingly caused the death of , using the fix bladed knife during a
confrontation over who was going to sleep on the porch of 1500 Wynkoop St #102.
I swear under penalty of perjury that the above statements made by me are true to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Signature of Officer making statement of probable cause

Probable Cause Found Probable Cause Not Found
Comments:

Signature of Judge/Magistrate Printed Name Date & Time of Determination