Denver police said Tuesday guns and drugs were the motives for a mass shooting that sent 10 people to the hospital early Tuesday morning.

Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas said that the shooting, which happened at 20th and Market Streets downtown, was not related to the thousands of fans who were celebrating after the Nuggets’ win but instead had everything to do with illegal activity.

A 30 second halo camera video released by Denver police showed the moment shots rang out. Dozens of patrol officers in dark uniforms  moved almost as a unit toward several parked cars. On the footage, some people are running and appear to hide.

“There are two elephants in the room. There are far too many guns out there and we have a tremendous problem with fentanyl,” Thomas said at a press briefing.

Officers searched a vehicle near where the shots were fired and found a handgun under the floorboard and a large amount of fentanyl.

Two men have been arrested on weapons-related charges, police said.

Ricardo Vazquez, 22, is being held on suspicion of possession of a weapon by a previous offender and possession of a controlled substance. Raoul Jones, 33, is being held on a charge of possession of a weapon by a previous offender.

Police said that five to six of the 10 people who were hospitalized with gunshot wounds were innocent bystanders. One of the 10 who was wounded is a suspect, according to Commander Matt Clark. Nine of the wounded were men and one was a woman.

Five of the injured remained at Denver Health in fair condition, authorities said.

By Tuesday afternoon, the intersection was quiet, cleared of any signs of police presence and chaos the night before.

The Denver Gazette reached out to several bars and restaurants in the area to talk to witnesses, but all declined comment — many saying they were asked not to speak until they have talked to police.

Second gunfight erupts 

A different gunfight occurred a little less than an hour before the incident at 20th and Market. This first shooting happened at 11:38 p.m. at 1441 Court Place, located behind the Wellington Webb Municipal Office building.

One person was injured in that shooting and remains hospitalized, authorities said.

The two shootings are not related, Denver police said.

Denver Clerk and Recorder Paul Lopez tweeted that he and his staff “are okay” after his office, which is in the Webb building, was hit by bullets. In the tweet, he added photos of a window with a hole in it surrounded by cracked glass.

Witnesses of the 1441 Tremont gunfight (the same shooting at Curtis Place — the streets are adjacent) posted on social media that several people jumped out of a car with masks on and started shooting.

In an email to The Denver Gazette, Denver police said that “each person who was shot in the two incidents is expected to survive their injuries” and that police responded to both scenes “within seconds.”

Chief Thomas assured reporters in the morning press conference that police and public safety are ready and prepared to keep the city safe for the Nuggets championship parade, which starts at 10 a.m. Thursday, but begins with a pre-rally at 9 a.m.

“We are aware of the potential for violence. We will develop a plan and be prepared for violence and anything that goes awry,” he said. “Drugs were exchanged. We will be even more vigilante in keeping an eye on crowds and gatherings.”

Thomas acknowledged that even though there was a heavy police presence at the 20th and Market shooting, they could not have prevented it.

Armando Saldate, Denver’s Executive Director of Public Safety, said that the fact that the parade is happening during the daytime will make a huge difference.

Saldate said that Tuesday’s early morning’s shooting was “one of the more chaotic scenes he’s ever seen in a 30-plus year career” and praised first responders for their quick action.