Crime
Family Demands Justice After Pregnant Woman Andriuna Guffie Killed in Hit-and-Run; Driver Arrested, Later Released
Chicago, Illinois – A grieving family is calling for accountability after a fatal hit-and-run crash claimed the life of a pregnant woman who had stopped to help others on the side of the highway.
Lakimeyon Brown told Channel2 NOW that her niece, 29-year-old Andriuna Guffie, was a devoted mother of two who was expecting her third child.
In the early morning hours of Sunday, March 29, 2026, at approximately 2:00 a.m., Guffie had pulled over along Interstate 290 East to assist a cousin involved in a prior crash. While rendering aid, she was struck by a passing vehicle and killed.
According to family members, the driver, identified as Quintin King, did not stop following the collision.
Authorities later stated that King admitted he was aware he had struck โsomething,โ but chose not to stop because he did not believe it warranted doing so. Investigators allege that Guffie was thrown a significant distance upon impact.
King reportedly left the scene and returned to his residence.
He was taken into custody hours later, with investigators locating evidence related to the incident at his home.
Despite the severity of the allegations, family members say he was subsequently released to home confinement.
The circumstances surrounding his release have sparked outrage among Guffieโs loved ones, who are questioning how a driver who allegedly acknowledged striking a person and fleeing the scene could be permitted to remain at home while they prepare to bury both Guffie and her unborn child.
โThis is not justice,โ Brown said, urging the Chicago community and legal authorities to recognize the gravity of the case.
The family is calling on prosecutors to pursue full accountability, emphasizing the profound loss suffered and the need for a response that reflects the seriousness of the incident.
The case remains under investigation.
Crime
Agent Nic Graham Dies After Being Shot in Lakewood Police Shootout With Suspect Gabriel Garcia on RTD Bus
LAKEWOOD, Colorado โ A Lakewood police agent who was critically wounded during a shootout with a suspect aboard an RTD bus has died, authorities confirmed. The fallen officer was identified as Nic Graham, a member of the Lakewood Police Department since 2019.
Graham was among four police agents injured Thursday evening when an armed confrontation erupted near Colfax Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard. A civilian bystander was also struck by gunfire.
The shooting followed a police search for a suspect connected to a hit-and-run crash reported earlier in the day.
Police said the incident initially began shortly before 3:45 p.m. Thursday, following a hit-and-run collision near Kipling Street and West 13th Avenue in Lakewood.
Witnesses told investigators that the suspect ran away almost immediately after the crash. However, they provided officers with a description that helped police identify and search for the individual.
Lakewood Police Public Information Agent John Romero said witnesses were able to give officers a useful description of the person who fled the scene.
Several hours later, at approximately 6:30 p.m., a Lakewood police agent recognized the individual boarding an RTD bus near Colfax Avenue and Wadsworth Boulevard.
Officers approached the suspect at approximately 6:32 p.m. Police said the individual opened fire on officers, resulting in an exchange of gunfire.
Responding officers returned fire, striking the suspect. The individual was pronounced dead at the scene and was identified as Gabriel Garcia.
Garcia was reportedly on parole when the shooting occurred.
The circumstances surrounding the confrontation remain part of the ongoing investigation.
Four Lakewood police agents suffered gunshot wounds during the confrontation. Their injuries ranged from serious to critical, and all four were transported to nearby hospitals.
Despite receiving emergency medical treatment, Graham later died from his injuries.
One civilian bystander was also hit by gunfire and hospitalized. The person’s condition had not been publicly disclosed as of Friday afternoon.
Hospital updates released Friday morning indicated that two agents treated at Denver Health Medical Center had been released. Another remained hospitalized, while officials had not provided a complete update on the remaining injured individuals.
Graham began serving with the Lakewood Police Department in 2019 after graduating from the police academy.
Throughout his law enforcement career, he contributed to criminal investigations and earned recognition for his work.
One of his notable achievements came in 2023, when he received the department’s Special Investigations Unit Wingman Award for his contributions to investigations targeting gang members.
Police Chief Philip Smith paid tribute to Graham, highlighting his dedication, compassion and commitment to helping others.
Chief Smith said Graham demonstrated those qualities throughout his career, from his early days on patrol to his investigative work.
His death has left the department and the wider Lakewood community grieving the loss of an officer who dedicated his career to public service.
The investigation remains ongoing as authorities examine the circumstances that led to the deadly confrontation.
The shooting resulted in the death of suspect Gabriel Garcia, the fatal injury of Agent Nic Graham, injuries to three additional police agents and a civilian bystander.
Officials have not released a final investigative account of the incident. Further updates are expected as investigators establish the complete sequence of events.