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Murder Charges Filed Against Grower Who Allegedly Shot Teens

DENVER (CBS4) - Denver's district attorney has filed murder charges against a marijuana grower who is suspected of shooting two teenagers who were in his backyard.

Keith Hammock, 48, now faces first-degree murder charges in addition to several attempted murder charges and other drug-related charges.

Keith Hammock
Keith Hammock (credit: Denver DA)

The incident happened early in the morning on Oct. 9 on the 2800 block of High Street in Denver's Whittier neighborhood. Authorities say Hammock shot the teens who had jumped over a fence to get onto his property in an alleged attempt to steal pot. One, Keylin Mosley, 15, was killed and the other, a 14-year-old was badly hurt.

Keylin Mosley
Keylin Mosley (credit: CBS)

Officers said they found two rifles and spent cartridges near Hammock's second floor window.

RELATED: Mother Of Teen Shot Says He May Be Paralyzed

"We heard shots ring off. There was about six initially, then a little break -- then we heard two more," a neighbor said just after the incident.

Police revealed Thursday that Hammock is also accused in a very similar case that took place in 2015. A 17-year-old was hurt in that incident.

"tt doesn't' appear that the victim at that time filed any formal complaint with the police. That teenager was treated at the hospital but gave a different story about how he suffered that gunshot wound at the time," Lynn Kimbrough with the Denver District Attorney's Office said.

murder case
(credit: CBS)

Hammock is currently in custody and a court date for him hasn't been scheduled yet.

CBS4 legal analyst Karen Steinhauser said Hammock could try to use Colorado's Make My Day law as a legal defense in the case.

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