Streets near Denver Health Medical Center are back open after they were shut down for a short time on a report of a man with a gun.
Sixth and Eighth avenues, as well as Bannock and Delaware streets had been closed.
Police said a man outside the hospital was seen putting a rifle into an sport-utility vehicle and an alarmed passerby went inside and reported it to security.
Hospital security called Denver police and officers responded quickly, and in mass, as a safety precaution, said Sonny Jackson, a Denver Police Department spokesman.
The man didn’t brandish the rifle or threaten anyone, Jackson said.
Other witnesses also saw the man with the rifle, Jackson said. The dark-colored SUV was last seen heading south on Broadway.
The people who reported the sighting did the right thing, Jackson said.
“If you have a concern, please let us know,” he said.
Beth Blizzard, 60, of Denver, a passerby, sized-up the police, media, and hospital staff gathered at West Seventh Avenue and Bannock Street.
Blizzard said aloud: “Much ado about nothing.”
