Denver Nuggets player Julius Hodge was shot three times early Saturday as he drove east on Interstate 76, shortly after leaving a popular nightclub, police said.
Hodge was in fair condition with two bullet wounds in the upper legs and one in the lower part of one of his legs, according to Nuggets coach George Karl.
A male passenger in the car suffered a minor injury, Adams County Sheriff Doug Darr said.
The motive for the shootings was unknown.
“He was in good spirits,” Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe said of Hodge.
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“He was a little shaken … but he obviously had spoken to his mom and his fiancée and wanted to make sure that they knew he was OK,” he said.
Sheriff’s officials said the 22-year-old rookie guard went to Club Paladium on West 62nd Avenue on Friday night to see a friend who is a musician. Rapper Juelz Santana, who was not the friend Hodge was visiting, was featured at Club Paladium, which was packed with more than 1,500 people.
“The atmosphere was solid,” said Kalif Kinlaw, a club promoter, meaning lively.
There were a few “scuffles” Friday night in Club Paladium, where the hip-hop crowds can be rowdy, Kinlaw said. He said he didn’t know who was involved in the fights.
The Paladium has 17 security guards. Two marked security cars patrol the parking lot, and patrons are required to pass through metal detectors.
Other Nuggets at club?
According to disc jockey Kevon “Kaveman” Hayes, who works at the adjoining strip club, Oasis, Hodge and four other Nuggets were at the Paladium on Friday night, but Darr said there were not any other Nuggets players at either club. Authorities said if any players were there, they would like to talk to them.
Hodge returned to the club just before closing at 2 a.m. Both he and his passenger said they did not get involved in any physical or verbal fights at the club or on the highway, Darr said.
The gunfire began at about 2:15 a.m. as Hodge was driving east on I-76 just as the highway passed over Interstate 25, said Sgt. Louis Dixon III, a sheriff’s spokesman.
“They were just driving down the road and someone pulls up beside them and starts shooting,” Dixon said. “We don’t know if it was a random thing. We are investigating all avenues.”
Hodge’s car was struck with several bullets from an unknown type of weapon, Dixon said. Investigators were searching the car for evidence, he said. Bullet casings were found on the highway about 150 yards from the car.
Good Samaritan arrives
One witness described the suspect vehicle as a cream-colored, older, large car with tinted windows that may have been a Cadillac, Darr said. It is possible there were two people in the car, he said.
The passenger in Hodge’s car, whose identity was not released, told police that immediately after the shooting, he jumped out and flagged down a passing motorist.
The driver stopped in the middle of the highway, the passenger said, picked up the wounded basketball player and the passenger, and drove them to a hospital, Dixon said.
It is unclear what motivated the shooting, Dixon said, and investigators have not identified specific suspects.
The good Samaritan drove Hodge to North Suburban Medical Center for treatment, Darr said.
“First and foremost, our primary concern is Julius’ health,” Vandeweghe said. “The doctors have informed us that he is in fair condition and is expected to make a full recovery.”
Hodge is cooperating with investigators, Nuggets spokeswoman Teri Washington said.
Police would like to speak with the driver who took Hodge to the hospital, Darr said, because he may have seen something that could be useful in the investigation.
“Slowing down” urged
Karl said Hodge is “OK” and could soon return to the courts.
“Preliminary reports is he’s fine; he’s going to be able to play in two to three weeks,” Karl said. “The trauma, it all hit us. We were sullen a little bit. We were struck by it. I think we all were struck by it.”
When asked whether he would talk to Hodge about being careful in public situations, Karl said: “That’s a hard one, but I talked to my team two weeks ago about slowing down everything off the court. Slow down your media, slow down your appearances, slow down your PR and let’s go for basketball. Let’s go for the playoffs.
“But there are exceptions and circumstances.”
Asked for his reaction, Nuggets forward Kenyon Martin said: “Wow. Why? Why him? People will mess it up for everybody.”
It struck him as odd that a player who doesn’t make a huge salary would be targeted.
“I don’t understand it,” Martin said. “It’s not like he’s driving around town in a $400,000 car. He was in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
Several Nuggets planned on visiting Hodge, and Karl said he would at least call him.
Hodge was drafted by the Nuggets last year in the first round from North Carolina State University. The 6-foot-7 rookie has been played sparingly, averaging less than 1 point per game.
Hodge was under investigation in an alleged sexual-assault attempt in October. The Denver district attorney’s office did not file charges, saying there wasn’t enough evidence to prove the case.
Norm Early, Hodge’s attorney during the criminal investigation, said he is a wonderful young man, raised to respect women by his mother, and had never been in trouble.
Washington said there are no curfews for players on game day. The Nuggets played the Golden State Warriors at 7 p.m. Saturday.
Julius Hodge
High school: McDonald’s All-American from St. Raymond’s High School in the Bronx, N.Y.
College: North Carolina State; degree in theater and communications
Pro: Drafted by the Nuggets in 2005 as the No. 20 pick in the first round
Staff writer Marc J. Spears contributed to this report.
Staff writer Kirk Mitchell can be reached at 303-820-1206 or kmitchell@denverpost.com.
