An overnight shooting in Denver’s West Colfax neighborhood killed one man, and his death is likely connected to two other overnight crimes, police said.
The Denver Police Department first reported the shooting just after midnight Wednesday at Stuart Street near West Colfax Avenue.
Police have not made an arrest but are looking for three vehicles connected with a group of suspects they say are armed and dangerous.
“We will not allow this to become status quo in our city,” Denver police Chief Paul Pazen said of the violence at a Wednesday afternoon news conference.
Police investigators have talked to witnesses and are reviewing and gathering video clips from surveillance cameras, from businesses and residences, in the areas of the crimes.
According to DPD, a 2018 maroon Honda CR-V, a 2020 dark blue Toyota Camry and a stolen black 1998 Toyota RAV4 were involved in the multiple incidents Tuesday night.
Police said the vehicles were involved in several crimes: a car jacking, a robbery and shooting, and the fatal shooting. Investigators are looking for four men involved in the incidents.
At about 10 p.m., a vehicle was broken into in the 2700 block of West Alameda Avenue in the parking lot of a business. A witness intervened in the break-in and a gun was pointed at the witness, said Cmdr. Matt Clark at the Wednesday news conference. The suspects fled the scene.
The carjacking happened at about 10:50 p.m. near East Colfax Avenue and Grape Street, police said. The suspects arrived in a stolen Toyota Camry and used a handgun to steal the 2018 Honda. There were no injuries.
The robbery and shooting happened at about 11:10 p.m. on Lafayette Street near Colfax Avenue, Clark said. The suspects, wearing masks, confronted the victim, at one point forcing him to the ground and then shooting him before fleeing. The victim was taken to a local hospital where he was in critical condition.
The fatal shooting happened at about 11:35 p.m. in the 1500 block of Stuart Street, Clark said. The victim was walking outside the Yeshiva when he was shot. Multiple shots were fired. and the victim was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
The fatal shooting happened near the Yeshiva Toras Chaim, a Torah school which instructs young men.
The fatal shooting “does not appear to be a bias-motivated crime, however, we are not ruling that out,” Pazen said.
Police pleaded with the public on Wednesday to submit tips, including video footage, to help identify suspects. “We need to get these violent criminal off the street,” Pazen said.
Anyone with information on the crimes, or on the suspects or suspect vehicles, is asked to call Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867.
