Updated 7:45 p.m. May 7, 2026: A Denver police officer who shot two juveniles while they were firing guns in a neighborhood in November was legally justified in his use of force, the Friday.
The DA’s office identified the officer as Densel Barnes. A copy of the DA’s decision letter to Police Chief Ron Thomas is available
Original story: At least three people were shot early Sunday morning at a house party in Denver, and police are searching for the suspect, according to law enforcement.
Denver officers responded to reports of a large fight in the 5100 block of North Biscay Court shortly before 2 a.m. Sunday and heard gunshots when they arrived, Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas said in a .
The officers moved toward the sound of gunshots and saw several people running, Thomas said. They spotted one man holding a gun.
Thomas said the officers confronted the armed suspect, but he refused to drop the gun and “continued to be a threat.” One officer shot at the suspect multiple times.
That shooting happened about 10 minutes before 2 a.m., before the clocks rolled back an hour for the end of daylight savings time, Thomas said.
that paramedics took the suspect to a hospital with unknown injuries. But Thomas said during the briefing that officers were not able to find the suspect, and it’s unclear if he was injured when the unidentified officer shot at him.
When officers searched the area for the suspect, they discovered two handguns and three victims who had been shot before police arrived, Thomas said.
All three victims sustained minor injuries and are expected to survive, he said. No officers were injured in the shooting.
“This is an active scene that we’re still investigating, trying to determine exactly what happened and exactly who all was involved,” Thomas said.
Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867.
