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Police shooting in Denver sends man to hospital

By July 2, 2025 | updated 5 months ago

Crime Scene
Boulder police are looking for a shaggy-haired man in his thirties who attempted to sexually assault a woman on July 4 evening. He may have a bite to his hand, as she said she bit him and used pepper spray to escape.
tillsonburg/iStock.com

One person ended up in the hospital with a gunshot wound fired by a Denver Police Department officer late Tuesday as police investigated an illegal fireworks call.

The incident began just before 9 p.m. Tuesday, when two officers were patrolling the 4300 block of North Del Rio Court in northeast Denver, according to a briefing from Denver Police Department Chief Ron Thomas via X.

During the patrol, police came across about five people sitting in the street around an object used to shoot mortar fireworks into the air, according to the briefing. As the officers got out of their vehicles to contact the individuals, one of the five people began walking away from the group and toward the house.

The man allegedly told officers to stop approaching, and began reaching into his waistband, according to the briefing. The officers, in response, then told him to bring his hands away from his waistband, during which he allegedly drew a gun while facing them.

One officer fired two shots, hitting the man at least once, Thomas said. He then fell to the ground and threw his gun. Officers provided emergency first aid before he was taken to Denver Health. At the time of the briefing — about 10:45 p.m. Tuesday night — Thomas said that he was in emergency surgery and in serious condition.

“I don’t know much about the individual who was shot, don’t know why he disobeyed commands,” Thomas said during the briefing. “Officers don’t know why he drew a weapon, don’t know anything about his criminal history or anything like that. Those are all things we’ll uncover during the investigation.”

The other four people involved remained at the scene and complied with police, Thomas said.

Per officer-involved shooting protocol, Denver Police Homicide, Colorado State Patrol and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation will conduct a scene investigation as well as interview officers and other witnesses, according to the briefing. The case will then be turned over to Denver District Attorney John Walsh for review.

Michael Braithwaite

Reporter

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