The Denver Police Department is investigating a fatal shooting that happened outside of Denver’s aquarium Wednesday afternoon.

Police believe the victim, a man, was the intended target of the drive-by shooting.

Police said the shooting happened just after 3 p.m. in the area of the Downtown Aquarium at 700 Water Street. The victim was taken to the hospital, where he died.

Police said the shots were fired from a vehicle, and that investigators are working to develop suspect information.

Visitors inside the aquarium at the time of the shooting said they were unaware of the shooting until they left the building and saw crime scene tape outside. They said the aquarium staff made no formal announcements or evacuations.

“We were just walking through, seeing fish. Then it ended and we went to the gift shop,” Anna Brawner said. “All of a sudden all the cops were here. We were like, woah, what’s going on?”

“We heard a couple loud bangs but thought it could be part of a flash flood exhibit, but that was it. Nobody said anything,” Coltin Anderson said. “We came out and [the street] was all blocked off and we saw the cop cars and everything. Then there’s someone blocking the gift shop exit, a cop. Then one of the [staff] escorted us out, took us behind the cop cars, but that was it.”

“We were getting ready to leave and we stopped for the little happy hour,” Teri Hansen said. “The waitress and bartender walked up and said, ‘Hey, we had an incident. We need you guys to cash out and need you guys to leave.'”

She said, “We went to walk out the back way and it was closed off. They said, ‘Hey, you need to go all the way around and go outside,’ Then we saw crime scene tape.”

Downtown Aquarium Chief Operating Officer Terry Turney provided the following statement when reached for comment:

“The Downtown Aquarium is open for business after the incident that occurred near the property this afternoon. We have no further information on the matter. Please direct all inquiries pertaining to the incident to the Denver Police Department.’”

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