The warning issued Tuesday by Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey was simple: People should not bring firearms to Denver’s Lower Downtown district.
Morrissey’s statement came as he praised Denver police Sgt. Bryan O’Neill for taking action when he saw 24-year-old Dwight Dean Collins pull a gun and point it at another person at 2:03 a.m. Oct. 17 as LoDo clubs were letting out.
The district attorney found the officer was justified in firing two shots at Collins, one of which hit Collins in the right cheek and exited his mouth.
According to Collins, who is charged with felony menacing and prohibited use of a weapon, he drew his weapon after a person walking on a nearby sidewalk had tried to stare him down. He said the man put his hands toward his waistband and, fearing he was reaching for a weapon, Collins said he drew his gun — at which time he was shot by O’Neill.
Morrissey said Collins apologized to everyone involved, saying “in my stupidity it was a way to defuse the situation . . . but it just made it worse.”
Morrissey said police have bulked up their patrols of LoDo about the time the nightclubs empty in order to prevent violence and property destruction.
