On Monday, prosecutors charged a man accused of gunning a young father who was trying to stop a fight.
Markivius Woods, 23, is charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action.
“He was just trying to help somebody that was crying and screaming, needing help,” Christina Traver, the victim’s aunt said.
Those pleas drew Traver and, her nephew, Austin Cupp to a house on the 3900 block of Denver early Sunday morning.
Prosecutors said they walked up to the argument Woods was having with his ex-girlfriend.
“The guy told him to go on about his business, told him he had something for him and Austin said ‘I just wanted her to tell me she’s ok,'” Traver said.
As she called 911, police said Woods shot Cupp, the oldest of 20 children. Traver gave him first aid but he died at the hospital.
“I know that my son would give his life in a second to stop that man from doing that even though he doesn’t even know these people,” Jackie Cupp, his mother said.
Cupp and his girlfriend of five years, Jessica Goth were raising three children.
“All he ever wanted to be was a father that’s all he ever wanted was to have his own kids and for him not to be able to be here and share all the love and everything he had for his children and his children not being able to experience that is probably the worst thing that could ever happen,” Goth said.
Court documents show Woods admitted to firing the shots but told detectives he didn’t intend to kill the 23-year-old victim.
“He took so much from this world when he took my son,” Jackie Cupp said.
Police arrested Woods at an apartment complex in the Loma Vista neighborhood. There they found the alleged murder weapon, an AK-47 rifle.
Funeral plans for Cupp are still in the works.
