COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Police say a man shot and killed outside a downtown Colorado Springs nightclub over the weekend was a Fort Carson soldier.
The medical examiner identified the victim as 22-year-old Army Spc. Deangelo Brown, of Jacksonville.
Officers were called about 2:39 a.m. Sunday on a reported disturbance in front of the Circa Bar on South Tejon Street. Arriving officers were told shots had been fired in the area and found Brown outside the bar. He was transported to a hospital where he was later pronounced dead.
Police say none one was arrested in the fatal shooting and investigators were asking the community for information to help find the gunman.
"It's just so emotional to think about how close we were," said Broderick Brown Sr., Deangelo's father.
Brown said he had prepared himself for his son's death if he were ever sent into combat. But when he learned his son was shot and killed outside of a nightclub, his world just fell apart.
"When they came knocking on the door, two uniformed officers, and they told me my son was not coming home anymore, it became real," Brown said. "I heard it early that morning, but it didn't sink in until they knocked on the door to bring notification."
Brown said his son had recently been promoted and approved to transfer to Fort Stewart in Savannah to be closer to family. The Forrest High School alum leaves behind seven brothers and sisters, who are pleading for answers in in his killing.
"He was just an all-around good kid," Brown said. "When any part of the family was down, he was the one who brought it together. He was like the glue to the family."
Deangelo Brown served in the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division and was a food service specialist.
His funeral will be at noon Tuesday at West Friendship Baptist Church, 945 Carrie Street in Jacksonville. A viewing for family and friends will be Monday evening at Weston's Mortuary, 3027 Myrtle Ave.
In response to the killing, Fort Carson has added Circa Bar to its list of off-limits establishments for post personnel, according to KRDO-TV.