The man found dead in a fire last week at the building housing Rosenberg’s Bagels and Delicatessen had been shot to death in what has been ruled a homicide, Denver’s coroner said Tuesday.
Shane Richardson, 29, was pronounced dead at the scene of the May 2 blaze in the city’s Five Points neighborhood.
The blaze happened about 2:30 a.m. in the area of 27th and Welton streets. Firefighters found Richardson’s body in what appeared to be a closet on the building’s second, and top, floor.
Until Tuesday, authorities had not said if Richardson died in the fire or before it began.
Investigators are still working to confirm how the fire was sparked, but say it began on the building’s second floor in an apartment. Rosenberg’s operates out of the building’s first floor.
The blaze left extensive damage throughout the building, with much of that being water damage in Rosenberg’s.
Denver police are still searching for one of Richardson’s vehicles, a 1997 Subaru Impreza with Colorado license plates 859ZID, in connection with their investigation.
A 2012 Ducati motorcycle earlier sought in the case has been found, police say.
The Denver Fire Department says the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is assisting in the investigation into the fire.
Melissa Taylor, a fire department spokeswoman, said Denver police will now take lead the probe.
“The fact it was ruled a homicide puts (police) in the driver’s seat,” she said.
Denver police did not immediately return a message seeking comment on the case Tuesday afternoon.
Rosenberg’s says it will remain closed until further notice.
Anyone with information on the fire is asked to call Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867.
Jesse Paul: 303-954-1733, jpaul@denverpost.com or @JesseAPaul
