Grizzly Rose mourns loss of 'member of the family'
Rocky Mountain News
Monday, December 15, 2008
Author: Jeff Kass, Rocky Mountain News
A photo of Timothy Minnick dressed in a tuxedo - complete with a bow tie, cowboy hat and smile - greeted visitors to the Grizzly Rose on Sunday night.
A remembrance book also was there for Minnick , 48, who was fatally shot Friday night while working security at the famous country music honky- tonk.
The Adams County Sheriff's Office is searching for three suspects in the shooting: Hispanic males in their late teens to early 20s, between 5-foot-4 and 5-foot-7, with slender builds.
Minnick went to check out the suspects, who were in a parking area behind the Grizzly Rose, at around 10:50 p.m. Friday. All three had bandanas over their faces, two had their heads covered with sweatshirt hoods and one wore a baseball cap, said Sgt. Candi Baker, sheriff's spokeswoman.
Minnick 's brother, Leland Curtis Minnick , said Minnick was a former Brighton police officer and was accompanied by at least one other security guard. Police say an altercation followed and one of the suspects fired several shots from a pistol.
Minnick was shot once in the stomach, Leland Minnick said Sunday. He believes the other guard was stabbed or slashed on the arm, but Baker could not confirm that Sunday night.
The suspects fled in a mid-1990s white or silver SUV - possibly a GMC Jimmy or Chevy Blazer- police said. The vehicle had tinted back windows, a luggage rack, and a chrome or light blue strip on the door's underside, or kick-panel. A woman with hair below her shoulders was in the driver's seat.
Minnick , twice-divorced with two adult children, lived in unincorporated Adams County in a trailer next to his brother's house, Leland Minnick said. He suffered a string of losses recently: bankruptcy, the death of his oldest brother, and a fire that gutted another trailer and killed his dog.
Minnick was a regular at the Grizzly Rose and about two years ago asked for a job, according to a company representative.
The Grizzly Rose Web page called Minnick a member of the family: "If you didn't know Tim, it was your loss. He always had a smile and funny line for everyone."
"He loved the Grizzly Rose," his brother added.
On Christmas Eve, Minnick was going to ask his girlfriend to marry him, Leland Minnick said.
Investigators are asking anyone with information about the case to call 720-322- 1313.
Brighton Blade
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Three charged in shooting death of ex-Brighton policeman
BRIGHTON -- Three people were arrested and charged in the murder of a former Brighton police officer at the Grizzly Rose nightclub in 2008.
Adams County District Attorney Dave Young announced the arrests of Gerald Michael Anthony Gurule, 31, Jennifer Lynne Lewis, 33, and 53-year-old Stanley Joe Gurule March 20.
Gerald Gurule faces two counts of first-degree murder, three counts of felony menacing and four counts of attempted first-degree murder. Lewis was charged with two counts of first-degree murder, four counts of attempted first-degree murder and three counts of felony menacing. Stanley Gurule faces two counts of accessory to a crime.
Adams County District Attorney spokeswoman Sue Lindsay said the first court appearances for all three suspects were Wednesday. The Gurules are due to appear in Adams County District Court May 25 for an advisement hearing. Lewis is due in the district court for a review hearing May 20.
As of March 20, all three suspects were in the Adams County Jail. Lewis and Gerald Gurule cannot post bond. Stanley Gurule was being held on a $5,000 bond.
The victim was 48-year-old Timothy Minnick, who was working as a security guard. He and other security guards made contact with three suspects. An altercation started in a parking lot, according to deputies. One of the suspects drew a pistol and started shooting.
Denver Post, The (CO)
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Arrests made in cold-case killing
Adams County on Wednesday announced an indictment and arrest of three people in a cold-case murder of a security guard at the Grizzly Rose nightclub.
The fatal shooting happened Dec. 12, 2008, when Timothy Minnick , 48, and another security guard confronted masked thieves in the parking lot of the nightclub.
Minnick was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead. The other security guard was uninjured.
According to a press release from the Adams County District Attorney's Office, a grand jury returned an indictment last week. The three suspects were arrested Tuesday.
Gerald Michael Anthony Gurule, 31, and Jennifer Lynne Lewis, 33, face multiple charges, including first-degree murder, attempted murder and felony menacing. Stanley Joe Gurule, 53, was charged with two counts of being an accessory to a crime.
The Gerald Gurule has a short criminal record with a conviction in 2010 for driving while ability impaired. Stanley Gurule however, has a lengthy criminal record, including criminal mischief, menacing and burglary.
The three made their first appearance in court Wednesday morning and are now scheduled for hearings at the end of May.
Minnick was a former Brighton police officer who had recently gone through two divorces, a foreclosure, and lost his brother and his dog -- among a longer chain of misfortunes. Family told The Denver Post at the time that Minnick was trying to rebuild his life.
The case is still under investigation.
The fatal shooting happened Dec. 12, 2008, when Timothy Minnick , 48, and another security guard confronted masked thieves in the parking lot of the nightclub.
Minnick was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead. The other security guard was uninjured.
According to a press release from the Adams County District Attorney's Office, a grand jury returned an indictment last week. The three suspects were arrested Tuesday.
Gerald Michael Anthony Gurule, 31, and Jennifer Lynne Lewis, 33, face multiple charges, including first-degree murder, attempted murder and felony menacing. Stanley Joe Gurule, 53, was charged with two counts of being an accessory to a crime.
The Gerald Gurule has a short criminal record with a conviction in 2010 for driving while ability impaired. Stanley Gurule however, has a lengthy criminal record, including criminal mischief, menacing and burglary.
The three made their first appearance in court Wednesday morning and are now scheduled for hearings at the end of May.
Minnick was a former Brighton police officer who had recently gone through two divorces, a foreclosure, and lost his brother and his dog -- among a longer chain of misfortunes. Family told The Denver Post at the time that Minnick was trying to rebuild his life.
The case is still under investigation.
Denver Post, The (CO)
Wednesday, February 12, 2014
Trial starts in 2008 slaying
BRIGHTON Police investigating the slaying of a security guard at the Grizzly Rose nightclub were so focused on one theory that they ignored evidence pointing in another direction, defense attorneys argued Tuesday in the trial of Jennifer Lynne Lewis.
"They had a theory, a theory based on something that Andres Ibarra told them ... he wants a benefit, he's in jail. He's still expecting a benefit," said Rachel Lanzen, public defender for Lewis.
Lewis, 34, faces multiple charges of first-degree murder, felony menacing and being an accessory to a crime.
Lewis was a getaway driver the night her boyfriend and two other men were allegedly involved in the killing of Timothy Minnick, a security guard at the Grizzly Rose.
The shooting happened on Dec. 12, 2008, when Minnick, 48, and another security guard confronted masked thieves in the parking lot of the nightclub.
Minnick, a former Brighton police officer, was shot to death.
"We ended up shooting him," Lewis told Ibarra the day after the shooting, according to prosecutor Christa Landis. "He was acting like a super cop."
Ibarra, who was in jail on unrelated charges, went to police more than a month later with the information.
A grand jury indicted Lewis and two men in March 2013, five years after the shooting.
Stanley Joe Gurule , 54, who was initially charged with two counts of being an accessory to a crime, had charges dismissed in October.
Lewis' boyfriend, Gerald Michael Anthony Gurule , 32, faces multiple charges including first-degree murder. His trial is scheduled to start April 28.
Clothing the men discarded blocks from the Grizzly Rose the night of the slaying left behind DNA evidence linking the men to the crime, authorities say, but descriptions of what the shooter was wearing vary.
Frankie Diaz, who was not indicted, was also linked by DNA to a jacket left at the scene. Lanzen said Tuesday that Diaz was the shooter.
"They had a theory, a theory based on something that Andres Ibarra told them ... he wants a benefit, he's in jail. He's still expecting a benefit," said Rachel Lanzen, public defender for Lewis.
Lewis, 34, faces multiple charges of first-degree murder, felony menacing and being an accessory to a crime.
Lewis was a getaway driver the night her boyfriend and two other men were allegedly involved in the killing of Timothy Minnick, a security guard at the Grizzly Rose.
The shooting happened on Dec. 12, 2008, when Minnick, 48, and another security guard confronted masked thieves in the parking lot of the nightclub.
Minnick, a former Brighton police officer, was shot to death.
"We ended up shooting him," Lewis told Ibarra the day after the shooting, according to prosecutor Christa Landis. "He was acting like a super cop."
Ibarra, who was in jail on unrelated charges, went to police more than a month later with the information.
A grand jury indicted Lewis and two men in March 2013, five years after the shooting.
Stanley Joe Gurule , 54, who was initially charged with two counts of being an accessory to a crime, had charges dismissed in October.
Lewis' boyfriend, Gerald Michael Anthony Gurule , 32, faces multiple charges including first-degree murder. His trial is scheduled to start April 28.
Clothing the men discarded blocks from the Grizzly Rose the night of the slaying left behind DNA evidence linking the men to the crime, authorities say, but descriptions of what the shooter was wearing vary.
Frankie Diaz, who was not indicted, was also linked by DNA to a jacket left at the scene. Lanzen said Tuesday that Diaz was the shooter.
Denver Post
February 19, 2014
Adams County jury convicts woman in security guard’s cold case murder
An Adams County jury has convicted a 32-year-old woman in the 2008 murder of a security guard who was gunned down in the parking lot of The Grizzly Rose nightclub.
Jennifer Lewis was convicted on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2014 of first-degree murder in the death of Timothy Minnick, former Brighton police officer.
The jury also convicted Lewis of three counts of attempted first-degree murder of two security guards and an off-duty police officer.
“This was a complicated case,” said Chief District Attorney Pete Stumpf. “We were fortunate to have a smart jury that worked hard and was able to sift through the evidence and reach a verdict that brings justice to the death of Mr. Minnick.”
Lewis drove three men to the Grizzly Rose on Dec. 12, 2008 and then drove her vehicle to a side street where she waited for the men to return, said Sue Lindsey, spokeswoman for the Adams County District Attorney’s Office.
The jury began deliberations Tuesday afternoon.
According to evidence presented during the week-long trial, Lewis drove three men to the Grizzly Rose on Dec. 12, 2008 and then drove her vehicle to a side street where she waited for the men to return.
The men opened fire on security guards and an off-duty police officer who went to investigate after seeing the men wearing bandanas over their faces in the parking lot.
Lewis will be sentenced at 1:30 p.m. on April 23.
Lewis and Gerald Michael Anthony Gurule, 32, were indicted by an Adams County grand jury last March.
Gurule is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, four counts of attempted first-degree murder and three counts of felony menacing. His trial is set for April 28.
Denver Post staff writer Kirk Mitchell can be reached at 303-954-1206 or twitter.com/kmitchelldp. Mitchell’s book “The Spin Doctor” is available now from New Horizon Press.
Jennifer Lewis was convicted on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2014 of first-degree murder in the death of Timothy Minnick, former Brighton police officer.
The jury also convicted Lewis of three counts of attempted first-degree murder of two security guards and an off-duty police officer.
“This was a complicated case,” said Chief District Attorney Pete Stumpf. “We were fortunate to have a smart jury that worked hard and was able to sift through the evidence and reach a verdict that brings justice to the death of Mr. Minnick.”
Lewis drove three men to the Grizzly Rose on Dec. 12, 2008 and then drove her vehicle to a side street where she waited for the men to return, said Sue Lindsey, spokeswoman for the Adams County District Attorney’s Office.
The jury began deliberations Tuesday afternoon.
According to evidence presented during the week-long trial, Lewis drove three men to the Grizzly Rose on Dec. 12, 2008 and then drove her vehicle to a side street where she waited for the men to return.
The men opened fire on security guards and an off-duty police officer who went to investigate after seeing the men wearing bandanas over their faces in the parking lot.
Lewis will be sentenced at 1:30 p.m. on April 23.
Lewis and Gerald Michael Anthony Gurule, 32, were indicted by an Adams County grand jury last March.
Gurule is charged with two counts of first-degree murder, four counts of attempted first-degree murder and three counts of felony menacing. His trial is set for April 28.
Denver Post staff writer Kirk Mitchell can be reached at 303-954-1206 or twitter.com/kmitchelldp. Mitchell’s book “The Spin Doctor” is available now from New Horizon Press.