Editor’s note: The Denver Office of the Medical Examiner identified the victim as 42-year-old Mario Rivera. The cause of death was a gunshot wound and the manner of death is considered a homicide.

Police arrested a suspect following a New Year’s Eve shooting that left one victim dead and another seriously injured in Denver’s Harvey Park neighborhood.

Anthony Lopez, 42, faces potential charges of first-degree murder, among others, following an altercation and shooting at a house party.

Denver police responded to a shooting report in the 2500 block of South Zenobia Street around 1:30 a.m. Monday. Upon arrival, officers found a large crowd of people arguing around a victim’s body in the front yard of a residence, according to arrest records. There had been a New Year’s Eve party at the home.

The victim was a man with multiple gunshot wounds, including one to the head. He was taken to a nearby hospital where he was later pronounced dead. 

Denver Police Department officers found another man nearby with gunshot wounds to the abdomen, face and neck. He was taken to a nearby hospital and is currently in critical condition.

A witness told investigators that Lopez had been invited to the party and came with his son and daughter. He began arguing with another man and was asked to leave. The altercation was eventually moved to the front yard where shots were fired.

Another witness said she saw Lopez leaving the house with a handgun. When she asked what he was doing, he said he was “getting his family out safely,” according to arrest records.

The argument continued as Lopez moved to the street. Once in the street, the suspect allegedly fired into a crowd of people in the front yard, according to records. The witness said one of the victim’s may have returned fire with a handgun that was by his side on the ground.

Following preliminary investigations, another witness identified Lopez as the shooter. He was arrested Monday.

The identification of the victim will be released by the Office of the Medical Examiner pending family notifications and an autopsy. DPD continues to investigate the shooting.