She Survived Cancer 4 Times. Then a Bullet Ended Her Life
Authorities have since arrested and charged 20-year-old Ebenezer Worku with her murder
James, 49, was a single mother of four who survived breast cancer four times since first being diagnosed at 29. She had been diagnosed with the disease a fifth time when she was killed
A cancer survivor and single mother of four is dead after being struck by a stray bullet in her Colorado home last month.
Jennifer James, who spent 20 years battling breast cancer after being diagnosed with the disease at the age of 29, died on April 28 after being hit by a stray bullet while sitting inside her home, the Larimer County Sheriff's Office wrote on Facebook. She was 49 years old.
Police were alerted to a shooting around 11:20 p.m. local time on April 28. The caller said a female was shot inside her home in Berthoud, Colo., a quiet town located about 50 miles north of Denver.
Deputies with the LCSO and a nearby trooper from the Colorado State Patrol rushed to the scene and began applying first aid, but she could not be saved and was pronounced dead at the scene. Others were in the home, but no one else was hurt.
Investigators have since named 20-year-old Ebenezer Worku as a suspect after identifying him on surveillance video from nearby homes, KDVR reported, citing an affidavit. He was arrested on May 1 and allegedly confessed to firing the fatal bullet to detectives. He told police he was cleaning the gun in a car when he "accidentally" fired it outside of the driver's side window.
He attempted to clear his chamber by firing the gun multiple times, however, he didn't know a live chamber was inside and thought the bullets would have hit a wall, according to KDVR, citing the affidavit. He turned off his lights and drove off to avoid attention, he said, per KDVR.
Worku was booked into the Larimer County Jail on a charge of first-degree murder - extreme indifference, and is being held there on a $1.25 million cash-only bond, according to the LCSO. He is scheduled for a disposition hearing on June 6,
The LCSO said in its release that it is still investigating.
Friends and family are also paying tribute to James and her incredible spirit."Jennifer was the epitome of sunshine. Anyone who knew her thought of her as the nicest person they had known," Juliána King wrote on the GoFundMe she created to help raise money for James' four children.
She went on to say: "Jennifer was an incredible human being and was loved by so many people."
Her friends also revealed that James was battling cancer for a fifth time and going through chemotherapy at the time of her death.
A celebration of life is planned for James on May 14.
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