2 suspects arrested by FBI agents in Chicago in connection to Denver liquor store murder

DENVER – Two people suspected of being connected to an April 21 strip mall shooting in Denver that left one man dead were arrested by Federal Bureau of Investigation agents on April 26 in Chicago, and are in the process of being extradited back to Denver.

Shawntez Kinney, 22, died in the shooting, which happened outside of the Evans Discount Liquor store on West Evans Avenue just after 9 p.m. on April 21. He had a young child.

Denver police have so far released few details about the case, but Denver7 has learned that two young suspects – 21-year-old Kara Stewart and 23-year-old James Wheeler – were arrested on April 26 in Chicago in connection with Kinney’s murder.

The two are currently in the process of being brought back to Colorado by U.S. Marshals, where it will be determined what charges the two might face, and what court will prosecute their possible charges.

Investigators used surveillance video, interviews and phone tracing technology to determine that both Stewart and Wheeler were at the scene of the alleged crime and headed straight to the Chicago area shortly after the shooting, according to documents obtained by Denver7.

Though lawyers for both fought their extradition back to Colorado, a judge ordered they be sent back. The two were out of a federal detention facility in Illinois as of Monday and headed back to Colorado.

More information regarding the case and possible charges are expected in coming weeks.

Denver7’s Alan Gathright contributed to this report.