Denver police arrest Downtown Detention Center inmate accused of killing cellmate

Rick Roybal-Smith

Denver police arrested a man for allegedly assaulting and killing a fellow Downtown Detention Center inmate early Monday morning.

Rick Roybal-Smith, 38, faces a first-degree murder charge after Denver Sheriff’s Office deputies found a man unresponsive in a housing unit at around 2:48 a.m., according to a Denver Police Department news release.

Authorities determined the victim was assaulted, causing injuries likely resulting in his death.

Detectives pointed to Roybal-Smith as the suspect, alleging he assaulted the victim. The two shared a housing unit at the detention center.

Colorado court records show Roybal-Smith previously pleaded guilty to a vehicular assault-DUI charge and was sentenced to 12 years in the Department of Corrections Oct. 6, 2016. In June 2022, after his release on probation, he was arrested again on a weapons violation in Arapahoe County, according to court records.

The Downtown Detention Center primarily houses inmates arrested and awaiting bond or court appearances, while also serving as a temporary holding facility for transfers.

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