At least ten people were reportedly shot in Denver early Tuesday morning as the city celebrated the Nuggets’ first NBA championship victory.
All of those who were shot are expected to survive. However, at least three are in critical condition, according to police.
At Least Ten Shot — Including Gunman — In Denver Following Nuggets’ NBA Finals Victory, Cops Say
Meanwhile, the suspected shooter was among those ten people shot. He allegedly sustained non-life-threatening gunshot wounds.
No motive or suspects were revealed as of Tuesday. However, early information suggests that several shots were fired during a fight involving several people, Fox 31 reports.
Police say the gunfire erupted almost three hours after the game concluded at around 2:30 a.m. as thousands of Nuggets fans made their way downtown to celebrate the historic NBA win.
Police spokesperson Doug Schepman tells the Denver Post that the mass shooting incident occurred in a part of downtown Denver filled with bars, where many Nuggets fans had been celebrating.
“As far as what led up to this altercation that resulted in the shots being fired, that’s still under investigation at this time,” Schepman told the outlet.
Shooting Occurred In District Known for Bars, Thousands Turn Out After Nuggets’ Win
The block where the shooting occurred is right next to Coors Field. Additionally, it is home to such bars as ViewHouse Ballpark and Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row, according to FOX 31.
SkyFOX, the network’s helicopter, flew over the district following the Nuggets’ NBA Finals win over the Miami Heat. The outlet captured thousands of fans as they celebrated into the long hours of the night.
“It did occur in the area where we had [the] largest gathering of folks celebrating during the night,” Schepman said.
Denver Police Live Tweet Shooting Investigation, Another Unrelated Shooting Rocks City
Denver police live-tweeted throughout the shooting investigation, with the number of victims starting with four around 3 a.m.
Alert: #DPD is investigating a shooting in the 2000 block of Market St. Preliminary information indicates there are four victims who are being transported to the hospital. Officers took a possible suspect into custody who also has a suspected gunshot injury. Investigation ongoing pic.twitter.com/AK2OrJngBr
— Denver Police Dept. (@DenverPolice) June 13, 2023
The number ultimately increased to nine by 4:10 a.m. on Tuesday (June 13) morning, with the gunman being the tenth victim overall.
Update 1/2: Nine total gunshot victims have been identified from the shooting in the 2000 Block of Market St, plus a suspect who also sustained a gunshot wound. 3 victims are in critical condition, the other victims & the suspect are believed to have non-life-threatening injuries
— Denver Police Dept. (@DenverPolice) June 13, 2023
“This is a complex, ongoing investigation in its early stages,” the department tweeted.
Update 2/2: This is a complex, ongoing investigation in its early stages. Preliminary info indicates multiple shots were fired during an altercation involving several individuals. Updates will be provided as they become available.
— Denver Police Dept. (@DenverPolice) June 13, 2023
On Monday, another unrelated shooting occurred nearby shortly before midnight.
Fox 31 reports that one person was taken to a local hospital. However, their exact injuries were unknown as of Tuesday afternoon.
