Defendants Receive Decades in Prison for 2021 West Colfax Murder

By The Denver North Star Staff

Prosecutors with the Denver District Attorney’s Office recently announced four of five men involved in a 2021 crime spree that resulted in the shooting death of 18-year-old Shmuel Silverberg have been sentenced to decades in prison.

Noah Loepp-Hall was sentenced to a stipulated prison sentence of 65 years. Aiden Sides was sentenced to a stipulated prison sentence of 41 1/2 years. Isaiah Freeman was sentenced to a stipulated 30-year prison sentence. Samuel Fussell was sentenced to 21 1/2 years. Seth Larhode will be sentenced July 21.

All of the defendants were ages 18 to 21 at the time of the crimes, which extended into Lakewood and Aurora.

“These five young men went on a vicious rampage that left one man paralyzed, a son dead and members of Denver’s Jewish community reeling,” Denver District Attorney Beth McCann said in a news release. “I wish peace for Shmuel Silverberg’s family and friends and the other victims of these horrendous and brutal crimes as well as their families and friends. I also want to acknowledge the Denver police officers and our prosecutors, investigators, victim advocates and support staff who worked incredibly hard and with great sensitivity to bring these cases to conclusion.”

Around 11:30 p.m. on April 17, 2021, Denver Police responded to a reported shooting at Yeshiva Toras Chaim School, located at 1555 N. Stuart St. The five suspects arrived at the location in two vehicles, according to a police affidavit.

They fired shots at Silverberg near North Stuart Street and West Conejos Street, according to the affidavit. Silverberg ran to the back of the school as the suspects essentially chased him as they drove their vehicles into the parking lot, the affidavit says.

Other crimes the suspects committed included shooting a man as he sat in his car at an Aurora gym. All five suspects entered guilty pleas in April, according to the District Attorney’s Office.

“We are forever grateful to the Denver Police Department and the Denver District Attorney’s Office for their tireless work on behalf of our son,” the parents of Silverberg stated.

“Their care, concern and sensitivity to our feelings and needs were unparalleled. We thank them for being there for us when we needed them and for taking the time to make sure that we understood all the proceedings.”