Brandon Sigala tattoo fundraiser remembers beloved skateboarder, murder victim

By Michael Roberts Fri., Sep. 2 2011 at 9:43 AM

Categories: Follow That Story, Things to Do

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Brandon Sigala.

This past weekend, 27-year-old Brandon Sigala was murdered at the Knights Inn -- a crime for which Scott Shorts has been arrested. But that's not the end of the story for Sigala's friends, family and loved ones, who are still grieving a death that's said to have followed his attempt to act as a peacemaker. Many of them will gather tomorrow at Th'ink Tank Tattoo and Gallery for a fundraiser that will remember the dedicated skateboarder in ink.

Th'ink Tank tattoo artist Jeremy Barber wasn't an intimate friend of Sigala's, but he knew him as "a really kind, positive guy who hung out every night at D Park," aka Denver Skatepark. "He was the kind of guy who'd try to break up a fight, not start one."

That's the story going around about how Sigala died. According to Barber, "I heard that a man was beating on a woman and Brandon stopped him. So the guy went and got a gun and shot him."

Plenty of skateboarders would have tried to help in the same situation, Barber believes. "They're misunderstood by a lot of people. D Park gets a lot of negative attention, but I'm a dad, a positive dude, and we all support each other, despite how society and other people think of us."

This spirit informs Saturday's event at Th'ink Tank, located at 172 South Broadway. From noon to 9 p.m. tomorrow, Barber will be inking memorial tattoos of Sigala for $50, with 100 percent of the proceeds going to his family. And those eager to help who don't want a tattoo are encouraged to offer a donation that will benefit the family as well.

As a bonus, Sexy Pizza will be providing free food to attendees. "The owner didn't know Brandon, but he said he'd be more than happy to help out," Barber says.

At this point, Sigala's father is planning to attend, and Barber expects to see plenty of others whose lives were touched by a boarder gone far too soon. "We just hope to get some money for his family," he says. "You can never plan for something like this. So we want to help out however we can."

To get additional details about the event, click here to visit the Brandon Sigala Memorial Tattoo Day Facebook page.

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