Denver’s gang unit and other officers are looking for the shooter and his motives in a drive-by assault and subsequent police chase through northeast Denver late Wednesday.
Investigators aren’t sure or aren’t yet saying what preceded the gunfire at the home on St. Paul Street near East Martin Luther King Boulevard and Steele Street, which left one man wounded. In the subsequent chase of the stolen Jeep sport utility vehicle, four officers suffered minor injuries in a crash as they tried to stop the speeding suspect.
The alleged shooter got away on foot — possibly without shoes — after he crashed in the 2600 block of York Street about 10:45 p.m., police said.
Police officers and tracking dogs combed the neighborhood for four hours before giving up.
Denver police Lt. Matt Murray said investigators were not releasing a lot of information and were not sure whether the incident was gang-motivated.
Police have not released the name of the man who was wounded in the leg at the home.
Arrests also have not been made in two fatal shootings in east Denver earlier this week.
Monday night, 21-year-old Katsina Lynnea Roybal was killed and another man was wounded in a shooting on a porch on East 36th Avenue near High Street.
Roybal pleaded guilty in January to taking part in the burning of Holly Square Shopping Center in 2008, which prosecutors said was retaliation for the killing of local Crips founder Michael Asberry a day earlier.
Sunday night, 17-year-old Montea Davis was shot and killed outside a liquor store at East 28th Avenue and Fairfax Street.
Police have not linked any of the shootings.
The four officers injured in the incident Wednesday night were treated at Denver Health Medical Center and released. One officer suffered a shoulder injury and the other officers suffered scrapes and bruises, said police spokesman Sonny Jackson.
The Jeep was stolen near East 11th Avenue and Fairfax Street, he said.
Anyone with information in any of the cases can call Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867.
Staff writer Kieran Nicholson contributed to this report.
Joey Bunch: 303-954-1954 or jbunch@denverpost.com
