A late-night shootout near a Colorado Springs nightclub left a man with gunshot wounds and a police officer placed on leave while authorities investigate his use of deadly force.
Police officers around 1:31 a.m. responded to a report of a man carrying a gun outside 13 Pure Night Club & Bistro in downtown Colorado Springs. Instead, they discovered a large group of people — many with handguns — fighting in the club’s west alley, authorities reported.
Lt. David Whitlock said dozens of officers eventually responded.
“It was some kind of melee that was going on out there,” Whitlock said. “Unfortunately, we are responding to things like this more often in the downtown area and 13 Pure has had its share.”
Shots were fired by several people, including one of the responding officers. One of the men in the alley was struck by gunfire and taken to a local hospital where he is in stable condition, police say.
No charges have been filed, although they may be later, Whitlock said.
Both the name of the wounded man and the officer, now on administrative leave, are being withheld.
The Colorado Springs Police Department routinely places officers involved in deadly force situations on leave.
The Fourth Judicial District Attorney’s Office and the Colorado Springs police continue to investigate both the officer’s weapon discharge and the alley fight.
Jessica Fender: 303-954-1244 or jfender@denverpost.com.
