Three college students gave up their wallets and valuables without a fight early Sunday, but one of two masked men shot them anyway.
All three were seriously wounded – one in the face, one in the back and one in the chest – but are expected to survive.
Denver police say the same armed men have committed four early-morning robberies in Denver since Friday – on the street, near a bus stop and near a light-rail station.
The crime spree began at 5:10 a.m. Friday at 541 E. 14th Ave.
In that case, the robbers shot the victim from a blue Honda with tinted windows. Detectives say it’s the only time a vehicle used by the robbers was seen by a witness.
Ten minutes later, the men robbed another victim nearby at 1402 Pearl St.
At 1:55 a.m. Saturday, another robbery occurred at 1085 Colorado Blvd.
It was unclear whether the victims in the second and third incidents were injured.
The latest incident was at 5 a.m. Sunday. The three students had left Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom at 2637 Welton St. and walked a block south to a parking lot at 25th and Welton streets to get their cars when they were assaulted.
The men demanded that the students hand over their wallets, said police spokeswoman Virginia Quinones.
“The victims complied,” she said Sunday, but all were shot.
The students, who are from out of state, were taken to Denver Health Medical Center and are expected to survive, Qui ñones said.
Police did not release the students’ names, what college they attend or their hometowns.
Both assailants were wearing dark clothing and black or gray ski masks with eye and mouth holes during all of the crimes. Police say one of the robbers is armed with a small-caliber revolver, the other with a knife.
The men fled early Sunday, and police were unable to find them despite an extensive search, Quiñones said.
According to the website for Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom, the band Zilla was scheduled to play Saturday night.
Denver bars usually close by 2 a.m., but Zilla’s website indicates the band was set to perform at 12:30 a.m. and would hold an after-hours party at the venue.
Light-rail service through the 25th and Welton station was suspended until 9 a.m. Sunday while police conducted an investigation, said RTD spokesman Scott Reed. There are no security cameras in the parking lot behind the light-rail station, but the Regional Transportation District does have roving security guards in the area and on trains, Reed said.
The lot where the incident occurred is not owned by RTD, he said.
“Like anyplace else, be aware of your surroundings,” Reed said of light-rail stations and bus stops. “If you see suspicious activities or suspicious-looking people, walk away and call the police.”
Staff writer Felisa Cardona can be reached at 303-954-1219 or fcardona@denverpost.com.
You can help
Anyone with information about the robberies is asked to call detectives at 720-913-6050 or Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP.
