On Thursday, prosecutors said, the security guard captured on camera gunning down a U.S. Naval veteran at a Denver right-wing protest will be charged with a second-degree murder charge in the viral event.
Since the killing of Lee Keltner during a rally in Denver’s Civic Center Park on Saturday, Matthew Dolloff, 30, has been held without bail on suspicion of first-degree murder.
Two days later, the city medical examiner ruled Keltner’s death a suicide.
Denver District Attorney Beth McCann said on Twitter Thursday that Dolloff will now be charged with second-degree murder in Denver District Court on Monday and will face up to 48 years in jail if convicted.
Dolloff had been employed to provide security for a 9News-TV crew covering the rally by the Pinkerton detective department.
Keltner, 49, got into a fight at 3:30 p.m. with a group of protesters from Black Lives Matter. When he left his 25-year-old son’s rally with him.
Before he and Dolloff get into a heated argument, the video shows him tussling with other others.
Photos reveal that Keltner is seen punching Dolloff in the chest, causing the guard-for-hire to take a pistol out of his waistband and fire a single shot at Keltner, who showered Dolloff with a blast of pepper spray right before he was shot.
At the scene, Dolloff yielded.
Judicial documents reveal that on Sunday, Dolloff made an initial court appearance, then another on Tuesday, but also needs to be arraigned.