Denver police said Sunday that officers are working an outdoor death investigation on the 1500 block of South Xavier Street, a scene that has shut down the block while authorities sort out what happened. The department said the Denver Office of the Medical Examiner will determine the cause and manner of death. Officials have not released any details about the victim or how the body was found.
In an alert posted on X, the department identified the location and noted that the medical examiner would be responsible for determining the cause of death. The post added that it "will only be updated if the status of the investigation changes to a homicide," according to the Denver Police Department's post on X. The alert did not include identifying information or a timeline for when the medical examiner's findings will be released.
How the cause will be determined
The Denver Office of the Medical Examiner, which investigates violent, suspicious, and unexpected deaths in the city, will conduct any needed examination and testing before issuing an official cause and manner of death. That process can include an autopsy and toxicology testing, which can take anywhere from several days to a few weeks. For more on the agency's role, see the Denver Office of the Medical Examiner. Anyone with information for investigators should contact the department's non-emergency line, as listed on the City of Denver's police page, at (720) 913-2000.
Local context
Police often put out short alerts like this when circumstances are still unclear, and they are waiting on the medical examiner's ruling before sharing more details with the public. In March, officers took the same approach on East Colfax while investigators awaited the OME's findings in a similar March case on East Colfax, as per Hoodline.
Anyone with information about Sunday's scene is asked to call Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP (7867) or submit an anonymous tip online, according to Metro Denver Crime Stoppers. This article will be updated if Denver police or the medical examiner release further details.
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