The tragic death of 49-year-old Jennifer James, a single mother of four, left the entire community Berthoud, Colorado, mourning.

James had battled cancer four times and survived each one only for her life to be cut short by a senseless and tragic shooting that took place in the neighborhood.

According to a report released by the police, James was struck by a stray bullet that hit her in her arm and chest while she was at home. The tragedy took place on April 28, 2025, just before 11:20 p.m.

James was able to call 911 before collapsing on the floor. Sadly, when the first responders arrived at her home, she was already dead.

Juliána King, who started a GoFundMecampaign for James’ four children, two of whom were reportedly in the house when she was killed, wrote of Jmes, “She was bravely battling cancer yet again at the time that she was taken from us.”

She added: “Jennifer was the epitome of sunshine. Anyone who knew her thought of her as the nicest person they had known.”

On May 1, the Larimer County Sheriff’s Office announced the arrest of 20-year-old Ebenezer Worku in connection with the shooting.

An affidavit obtained by Fox affiliate KDVR News states that Worku, who claimed he suffers from “homicidal schizophrenia,” had stopped his car in the middle of the street where James lived while trying to clean a gun his “adopted uncle” had given him for his April 11 birthday and “accidentally” fired it twice. He simply opened his car’s window and fired towards James’ house.

According to Worku, he had no idea anyone was hurt and fled in fear, “turning his headlights off to avoid drawing attention.”
The report states that after discovering he had killed someone, he showed signs of emotional distress and asked to be jailed and given death sentence. “I did it, and I’m getting punished for it…put me in jail,” he said

Worku was immediately arrested and charged with first-degree murder under the classification of “extreme indifference” with a cash-only bond set at $1.25 million.

In an interview with KDVR, James’ oldest daughter, Ashley James, said, “It just makes me mad that such a senseless act of violence occurred, and you never think that’s going to happen to you.

“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.”

In a statement shared with 9News, Ashley wrote, “My mom was a single mom of 4 of us kids. She was a four-time breast cancer survivor.

“It feels like a cruel joke that she was taken from us in such a senseless and violent way, when she did nothing but fight for her life since she was 29-years-old. She never once complained about her treatments in those 20 years. She was the most selfless mom and did everything for us kids. Her resiliency is something that I have always admired and is something that I hope to carry on in her memory.”

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