The tragic death of 49-year-old Jennifer James, a single mother of four from Berthoud, Colorado, has left the entire community grieving. After surviving cancer four separate times, she lost her life in a senseless act of violence that no one could have imagined.

According to police, James was struck by a stray bullet that entered her home on the night of April 28, 2025, just before 11:20 p.m. She managed to call 911 but collapsed before help arrived. First responders found her unresponsive, and she was pronounced dead at the scene.

A GoFundMe created by family friend Juliána King revealed that two of James’ children were home during the shooting. King described Jennifer as “the epitome of sunshine” and someone everyone considered the kindest person they knew.

On May 1, authorities arrested 20-year-old Ebenezer Worku in connection with the shooting. According to an affidavit obtained by KDVR, Worku told police he was cleaning a gun gifted to him for his birthday when he “accidentally” fired two shots toward James’ home before fleeing. Worku, who claimed to suffer from severe mental illness, later expressed distress and asked officers to jail him.

He was charged with first-degree murder under the “extreme indifference” classification and is being held on a $1.25 million cash-only bond.

James’ oldest daughter, Ashley, shared her heartbreak, saying her mother devoted her entire life to her children and never complained throughout two decades of cancer treatments. She described the loss as a cruel twist after all her mother had overcome.

Ashley added in a statement that her mother’s strength and resilience are qualities she hopes to carry forward. For a woman who fought so hard for life, her death has shaken the community and those who loved her most.