Fights in the early hours of the new year left one man dead in Denver and two men injured in Arvada, according to authorities.
Police are releasing few details about the two incidents, both of which occurred just hours after the midnight fireworks.
Denver’s first homicide of 2010 took place at 3:11 a.m. at 1434 Lipan St. Police were summoned to break up a fight and found a man who was not breathing.
The victim, whose identity was not released, was taken to Denver Health Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Through interviews, police learned that the man had collapsed during a fight with Robert Haskins, 43, according to a press release.
Haskins was arrested for investigation of first-degree murder.
An autopsy is planned.
In Arvada, two men were shot at a New Year’s party in the Lake Arbor area just after 2 a.m.
Officers were called to a condominium complex in the 6400 block of West 80th Drive on a report of a fight among partygoers and that two people had been wounded by gunfire.
The victims, ages 23 and 21 and whose names were not released, were taken to an area hospital, where they were being treated for their injuries.
The shooter or shooters fled the scene, and police are continuing to investigate.
In Aurora, a driver was killed after his Honda CRV rear-ended an RTD bus as the clock approached midnight.
John Tomczyk, 51, of Aurora died in the crash at 10:15 p.m. near the intersection of East Arkansas Avenue and South Buckley Road.
Police said Tomczyk was not wearing a seat belt, and alcohol is suspected as a contributing factor in the crash.
There were five adult passengers and a driver on the bus, none of whom was injured.
Jeremy P. Meyer: 303-954-1367 or jpmeyer@denverpost.com
