The Denver North High School softball community is mourning the heartbreaking loss of 18-year-old Yorbelis Del Valle Gutierrez-Arenas, a young woman remembered by those around her as a valued member of her family, school, and softball community.

Yorbelis’ life was tragically cut short on Monday morning, August 24, 2026, after Lakewood police responded to a residence in the 1200 block of Benton Street at approximately 9:43 a.m. following a 911 call reporting that multiple people had been shot. When officers arrived, they discovered Yorbelis and a 16-year-old male inside the home, both suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Despite the circumstances, the greatest focus now remains on the life that was lost and the people who loved her.

Authorities identified Yorbelis as one of the victims, while the identity of the 16-year-old male has not been released because he was a juvenile. Detectives are investigating the deaths as a suspected murder-suicide, though police have not released further information about what led to the shooting.

For those who knew Yorbelis, her name now carries the weight of a loss that is difficult to put into words. Her family is left to face a pain no family should have to endure, while friends, classmates, coaches, and teammates are coming to terms with the sudden absence of someone who was part of their everyday lives.