Unlicensed Guard Charged With Murder In Denver Protests

Denver’s District Attorney announced an unlicensed security guard faces secondary murder charges in the shooting death of a man during Oct. 10 counter-protests in the city.

Denver District Attorney Beth McCann announced Thursday that 30-year-old Matthew Dolloff was charged in the shooting death of 49-year-old Lee Keltner.

“This incident occurred on Saturday afternoon, October 10, 2020, as Mr. Keltner was leaving Denver’s Civic Center Park where it is alleged that Mr. Dolloff shot Mr. Keltner after an altercation,” a statement from McCann’s office read.

A partially redacted arrest affidavit released by the Denver District Attorney’s office states that Keltner and Dolloff were engaged in a verbal dispute during civil rights demonstrations in the city. After an altercation, which lasted several minutes, Keltner was seen hitting Dolloff in the head with an open hand, after which Dolloff shot Keltner once fatally.

Dolloff was under contract from security services firm Pinkerton to accompany 9NEWS during protests. 9NEWs reported that Dolloff was issued a five-year license in 2018 to carry a concealed weapon. A city official, however, said he was not licensed to be a security guard.

A statement from Pinkerton posted on the company’s Facebook page said Dolloff was on contract and not an employee, adding it was cooperating with law enforcement officials during the investigation.

An attorney for the Doloff family said he was acting in self-defense. The case against Doloff will be filed Monday in the Denver District Court.