Affidavit: Man says deadly shooting of woman in Berthoud home was an accident

Yahoo

10-05-2025

DENVER (KDVR) — A man admitted to investigators that he fired the shot that killed a mother who was in her home in Berthoud on April 28, and said he accidentally discharged the gun, according to an affidavit.
FOX31 obtained the affidavit for the warrantless arrest of 20-year-old Ebenezer Worku, revealing new details about what led to the shooting that killed 49-year-old Jennifer James.
Previous coverage: Denver man arrested in connection with shooting death of woman in Berthoud: Sheriff's office
James was in her home on 1st Street just north of Mountain Avenue in Berthoud on Monday, April 28, around 11:20 p.m., when a bullet came through a window and struck her in the upper arm and traveled through her chest.
According to the affidavit, the 911 caller reported that she said she was shot before she collapsed and stopped breathing. First responders rendered aid but she was pronounced dead on the scene.
The Larimer County Sheriff's Office said at the time that her death was being investigated as 'suspicious.'
Investigators reviewed security camera footage captured nearby and found that a Nissan Rogue stopped in front of the residence at 11:18 p.m. and was there for several moments before its headlights went dark and it drove away.
A vehicle matching the description was seen just after 11 p.m. in footage from a Conoco gas station a few blocks north. According to the affidavit, the Nissan driver got out and appeared to interact with the license plates.
At the gas station, the occupant of the Nissan was also seen meeting with the driver of a blue 2002 Dodge Ram. According to the affidavit, the truck left and returned shortly after, again meeting with the occupant of the Nissan, which then left the gas station and drove south on 1st Street around 11:18 p.m.
Data from automated license plate readers showed that the Nissan and the Dodge were only located near Larimer County once in the past 30 days.
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On April 30, the Nissan was involved in a crash on Interstate 25 near Greenwood Village. A Greenwood Village Police Department commander contacted the driver, identified as Ebenezer Worku, and body-worn camera footage showed that he had a handgun holster underneath his jacket.
Investigators pinged his cell phone to the parking lot of Cabela's in Thornton, where Worku and the Nissan were found, along with the Dodge and its driver. The affidavit said the driver of the Dodge entered the store, returned with two boxes of live cartridges and handed them to Worku.
Worku and the driver of the Dodge were taken into custody for questioning and the vehicles were seized for processing. A Glock 22, .40 caliber handgun with an extended magazine was found between the driver's seat and center console of the Nissan.
Worku waived his Miranda rights and was taken to the sheriff's office to be interviewed.
Worku talked about his mental health history, according to the affidavit, and said he suffers from 'homicidal schizophrenia,' and hears voices that tell him to harm others. He said he was off prescriptions for two years.
He admitted to possessing a Glock 22 handgun and said it was a birthday gift from his 'adopted uncle,' identified as the driver of the Dodge. He said the gun was for target shooting and was only used at the range, and otherwise kept in a storage unit.
He initially denied being in Larimer County and the affidavit said he was confused why he was connected to an investigation. He later admitted to possibly meeting the driver of the Dodge at a Murphy Express gas station to get another magazine between 6 p.m. and 11 p.m., before going to an airsoft facility in Erie. He said he was driving his father's Honda CR-V that day because his Nissan had recently been repainted.
Investigators told him that surveillance footage showed him in Berthoud on the night of the homicide and he denied knowing anything about a shooting.
The affidavit said he appeared to be in emotional distress when they told him someone had died. Investigators pressed, and Worku said he discharged his firearm but did not know anyone was near.
Worku said he met the driver of the Dodge at Conoco to pick up a marijuana vape cartridge, and said he taped his license plates to avoid toll fees on the drive back to his house.
Worku said he left the gas station and was driving south on 1st Street while he tried to clean his gun and 'accidentally' fired it out of the driver's window toward a house, according to the affidavit. He said he was unfamiliar with the gun and had his finger on the trigger when he pulled back the slide, making the gun discharge. He said he stopped in the middle of the road before the shot was fired.
Then, he said he fired again when he tried to clear the chamber, not realizing a live round was present. He told investigators he was not aiming and thought the bullets would hit a wall or stop short. He said he saw that the curtains of the home were mostly closed, so he did not think he hit anyone, got frightened and drove away, turning his headlights off to avoid drawing attention.
He said he thought the casings flew out of the car as he was holding the gun outside of the vehicle, however, the sheriff's office said no casings were found at the scene.
The affidavit said he was willing to take responsibility and asked that the victim's family be told about his deep regret. According to the affidavit, he said, 'I did it, and I'm getting punished for it,' and repeatedly said 'put me in jail,' even requesting the death sentence.
After his confession, he was placed under arrest for first-degree murder. he was booked into the Larimer County Jail for one charge of first-degree murder – extreme indifference, and was issued a $1.25 million cash-only bond.
The small community of Berthoud is mourning James' loss. She had beaten cancer four times, only to be shot in her own home by bullets fired from a stranger's car.
'It just makes me mad that such a senseless act of violence occurred and you never think that's going to happen to you,' James' oldest daughter, Ashley James, told FOX31's Vicente Arenas.
By all accounts, James was well-loved by so many in Berthoud. She was passionate about helping kids battling cancer, too. She loved helping find animals a home and was a huge Nuggets fan.
'She was the most selfless mom that anyone could ask for. She kind of devoted her whole life to us kids, so I'll be forever grateful for everything that she did for us,' James said.
Two of James' children were home at the time of the shooting.
James' funeral is set to take place later this month.
A fundraiser through GoFundMe has been set up to help the family cover expenses. Those who wish to contribute can donate online.
FOX31's Vicente Arenas contributed to this report.
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