Murder charges against Stephan Long dropped

DENVER – The Denver district attorney is requesting that the remaining murder charges be dropped against a man accused in the deaths of two brothers.

Stephan Long claimed after the June 13, 2023, shooting that he feared for his life before pulling the trigger and killing Damon and Blake Lucas on Interstate 25 near Eighth Avenue. He was arrested shortly after the shooting and charged with two counts of first-degree murder, one of which was later dropped.

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According to court documents, Long told investigators the two men stopped next to him on the highway, yelled at him and attacked him. Long told 9NEWS he was scared and couldn't get away, so he shot the men and drove away.

On Wednesday, Denver District Attorney Beth McCann announced in a statement that she would seek to have the remaining murder charges against Long dropped.

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“After careful and comprehensive review of all of the evidence in this case – which included numerous consultations with members of my office – and after applying Colorado law to the evidence, I have concluded that we have not been able to prove Mr. Long's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt before a jury,” the statement said. “The evidence establishes a strong and valid self-defense claim under Colorado law. Therefore, we will ask the court to dismiss the remaining charges against Mr. Long. This was an extremely difficult and heartbreaking decision, but ultimately, in my opinion, the right one.”

Long's trial was scheduled for this November.