The Denver Police Department on Monday identified two suspects — one of whom allegedly engaged an officer in a gunfight — arrested in connection with a shooting that left two people dead outside a gas station in north Denver on Monday.

Authorities said the suspect who exchanged fire with the police suffered from a K9 bite during his arrest.

The police arrested Fabian Vasquez, 19, and Dominic Gallegos, 18, on suspicion of the shootings outside a 7-Eleven gas station near East 35th Avenue and Colorado Boulevard around midnight Sunday, according to a Denver police news release.

Police said two groups of men engaged in a verbal argument before shots were fired between the two parties.

At approximately 12:01 a.m., an officer heard the gunfire, approached the scene and confronted an armed individual, who began shooting at the officer, who returned fire, the police said in a news release.

Other officers arrived to the scene of the initial shooting and found two victims, according to Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas. One man was pronounced dead in the parking lot. A second man was taken to Denver Health where, he was later pronounced dead, Thomas said.

No police injuries were reported in the exchange of gunfire.

The suspect who shot at the officer ran from the scene and the officer pursued but lost sight of him.

Police said officers later located Vasquez, who authorities alleged was the one who killed the two men and the one who shot at an officer. Vasquez was taken to the hospital after “prolonged exposure to the cold” and a dog-bite injury from a K9 bite during his arrest, police said.

Vasquez is being held for investigation of two counts of first-degree murder and one count of attempted murder.

Gallegos, the second suspect arrested, is allegedly a previous offender in possession of a handgun. His involvement in the shooting remains under investigation, the police said.

The Denver police officer involved in the gunfire exchange has been placed in an off-line assignment pending the outcome of the investigation, as is the protocol.

The Denver District Attorney will determine exact charges for Vasquez and Gallegos.

The identities of the victims will be made by the Office of the Medical Examiner after families are notified and autopsies are completed.

No next court date information was immediately available from Denver District Courts Monday.

Denver Gazette news partner, 9NEWS, contributed to this report.