Incident left one Hells Angels member dead; one ‘Good Samaritan’ with long-term brain injuries
byRylee Dunn
Nine members of the Mongols Motorcycle Club, described as an outlaw group, have been sentenced in the shooting case that claimed the life of a Hells Angels member and caused serious injuries to five other people — two of whom were also motorcycle club members, and three of whom were not affiliated with a motorcycle club.
The shooting occurred outside Jake’s Roadhouse, a popular bar and music venue in Arvada, on July 11, 2020. The band Nightwolf was playing at Jake’s that night, and when band members heard the roar of motorcycles outside, they stepped outside to get some air.
At that point, Nightwolf lead singer Ryan McPherson saw a man — later identified as William “Kelley” Henderson — lying in the street and went to help him. McPherson was then beaten by motorcyclists, while Henderson, who had been shot, succumbed to his injuries. McPherson was left with long-term brain injuries from the incident.
A 19-month-long investigation conducted by multiple law enforcement agencies concluded on Jan. 26, 2022, when Arvada Police announced that multiple suspects had been brought into custody across four states; Colorado, California, Utah and Florida.
All defendants pleaded guilty to their respective charges. The following sentences were handed down in Jefferson County District Court on April 10:
- Gregory Lawrence Moore: sentenced to 27 years in the Department of Corrections for racketeering. Convicted on April 4.
- Leon Matthew Dennis: sentenced to 24 years in prison for racketeering
- Saint George Michael Gonzales: sentenced to two years’ probation for tampering with physical evidence. Convicted Dec. 16, 2022.
- Kenneth Wayne Tischler: sentenced to two years’ probation for tampering with physical evidence. Convicted Jan. 6, 2023.
- Vincent James Dominguez: sentenced to five years in prison for second-degree assault. Convicted May 15, 2023.
- Phillip Raymond Garcia: sentenced to three to five years’ probation for tampering with physical evidence. Convicted July 18, 2023.
- Daniel Ruben Goint: sentenced to eight years in prison for second-degree assault causing a significant brain injury and crime of violence. Convicted Jan. 25.
- Rafael Vargas Lozano: sentenced to three years’ probation for tampering with physical evidence. Convicted Sept. 2, 2022.
- Jared Chadwick was sentenced in Utah federal court to 28 months in federal prison for tampering with physical evidence and being a felon in possession of a firearm. Status conference held on April 10.
Moore and Dennis had multiple charges — including first-degree murder and first-degree assault — dismissed by plea. Chadwick Swopes was initially arrested in connection to the incident, but did not end up being charged.
Two motorcycle club members sustained gunshot wounds in the incident. Two additional non-members apart from McPherson sustained serious injuries as well.
Arvada Police Chief Ed Brady said he was glad the case was finally put to rest after four years.
“This was a case of pure evil, and our community will not tolerate it,” Brady said. “I am incredibly proud of our entire department’s efforts and perseverance to seek justice, and the assistance from several professional law enforcement agencies.”
Colorado Bureau of Investigations Director Chris Schaefer said that tough no one was ultimately held accountable for Henderson’s murder, he is glad that those involved in the crime will be held accountable.
“The culmination of this 4-year investigation that involved three innocent
community members caught up in rival biker gang violence would not go unsolved
despite all the challenges this case presented,” Schaefer said. “We might not have been able to prove who fired the fatal bullet, but in going after the Mongols as a criminal enterprise, we were able to hold nine criminals accountable for engaging in a senseless murder and group violence that put the community at risk.”
McPherson suffered multiple head injuries, a broken leg and other broken bones. He spent over a month in the hospital after the incident.
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