A teenage girl was shot in the back last night in a Thornton drug deal that went bad, police said.
The 17-year-old victim was critically wounded and flown by helicopter from North Suburban Medical Center to Swedish Hospital, said Matt Barnes, a Thornton Police Department spokesman.
The shooting happened at about 8:15 p.m. in the 8900 block of Hoyt Drive.
The girl accompanied her 19-year-old boyfriend to Lilly Park, near the 8900 block of Lilly Drive, and met two men there to sell them marijuana, Barnes said.
The two buyers, however, assaulted 19-year-old Juan Verastegui and stole marijuana and cash from him, Barnes said.
Shortly after the assault, Verastegui confronted the two men a few blocks away from the park, and they fought again.
Verastegui and the girl got into his car and were about to drive away when the girl was shot, Barnes said.
Verastegui drove to the North Suburban emergency room. He was treated and released, and the girl was flown to Swedish. Details on her condition were not available.
The investigation is ongoing, Barnes said, and could include charges against Verastegui as well as the two at-large suspects.
Kieran Nicholson: 303-954-1822 or knicholson@denverpost.com
