Several injured after police shoot suspect in downtown Denver riot as bars open

Several people were injured early Sunday morning in a busy nightlife area after Denver police officers opened fire on a man involved in a disturbance.

Officers were at 20th and Larimer streets around 1:30 a.m. as the bars began to close for the night. Officers observed a disturbance involving an armed man and confronted him, Denver Police Department Chief Ron Thomas said in a recorded statement.

Thomas said officers opened fire and shot the man because he “posed a significant threat.” Thomas did not say how the man posed a threat.

If you witnessed this incident or know someone affected by it, please call reporter Elise Schmelzer at 303-954-1368 or email eschmelzer@denverpost.com.

Officers then became aware of other people in the area who had been injured in the incident, Thomas said. He did not say how they were hurt or how many people were injured.

The suspect in the crime, as well as others, were transported to the hospital. The suspect is in critical condition and the other people are in serious condition, Thomas said in the recorded statement.

UPDATE: Briefing by Chief Ron Thomas at 20th St and Larimer St. pic.twitter.com/Ej99rccBGu

— Denver Police Department (@DenverPolice) July 17, 2022

Denver police spokesman Kurt Barnes said at 9:30 a.m. Sunday that the investigation into the incident was ongoing and declined to answer questions about how many people were injured, whether they were injured by police gunfire and whether anyone besides the officers fired a weapon. He also declined to elaborate on the disturbance that led to the shooting.

“We’re still investigating, we’re still trying to determine how many people are injured,” he said, noting that some people were transported to hospitals.

Officers recovered one handgun at the scene, Barnes said.

Sunday’s shooting is the third time in a week that Denver police officers have shot someone. On Friday, a police officer shot and killed a man who authorities say had stabbed his partner. On Wednesday, police officers shot and killed a man they say fired at pursuing officers.