Colorado: 2 Shot, 1 Police Hit by Firetruck During Denver Nuggets Victory Parade
Tragic events unfolded in Colorado Thursday at the Denver Nuggets victory parade after their first NBA championship took a grim turn.
Two individuals were shot, and a separate incident occurred in which a police officer was struck by a firetruck, Fox News noted.
The shooting occurred after the parade and festivities concluded at the intersection of Curtis Street and 17th Street, as reported by the Denver Police Department. Law enforcement officers discovered two victims at the scene.
During a news conference, Chief Ron Thomas addressed the incident, stating that the shooting was a targeted attack by a gunman.
Chief Thomas further mentioned that investigators believe the shooting was unrelated to the event. While authorities possess an image of a suspect, the individual remains unidentified and is not currently in police custody.
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Colorado Police Could Lose a Leg After Being Hit by Firetruck
During the Denver Nuggets victory parade for winning the NBA championship, a Colorado police officer suffered a severe injury after being struck by and trapped under a firetruck, per Colorado Sun.
This incident happened an hour before the shooting that injured two individuals.
Sgt. Justin Dodge, an experienced SWAT officer, was attempting to protect paradegoers from traffic when the incident occurred at the intersection of West 13th Avenue and Cherokee Street, according to Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas.
Dodge was trapped beneath the firetruck, resulting in a significant lower leg injury, as described by Chief Thomas. The severity of the injury raised concerns about potential limb loss. However, Stephen Wolf, the director of emergency medicine at Denver Health Medical Center, assured that the orthopedic services available would make every effort to preserve Dodge's limb.
As of the news conference, he was undergoing surgery and was reported to be in serious but stable condition, according to Wolf.
Colorado Police Record At Least 9 Injuries in Denver After Nuggets Win NBA Championship
A mass shooting occurred in downtown Denver, Colorado, leaving at least nine people injured as they gathered to celebrate the Denver Nuggets' first NBA championship, according to CNN.
The incident unfolded after the Nuggets' victory over the Miami Heat at the Ball Arena, just a short distance from the scene.
According to police, shots were fired from multiple firearms during a confrontation involving several individuals in the 2000 block of Market Street, near the intersection with 20th Street.
The area was crowded with hundreds of fans who had assembled to celebrate the NBA title, as captured in videos of the event.
Five of the nine individuals who were shot are currently hospitalized, with their conditions described as fair by trauma surgeon Eric Campion of Denver Health Medical Center.
Authorities believe the shooting is unrelated to the championship celebration, stating that it may be linked to drug-related activity. Significant amounts of cash and fentanyl pills were discovered in the vicinity by the Denver Police Major Crimes Division. Two men have been taken into custody in connection with the incident.
Ricardo Vasquez, 22, faces possession of a weapon by a previous offender and possession of a controlled substance. At the same time, Raoul Jones, 33, is charged with possessing a weapon by a previous offender. As the investigation progresses, additional charges may be added.
One of the suspects taken into custody had also sustained gunshot wounds, indicating that they may have been injured during the incident.
Law enforcement officials have recovered five weapons thus far, and forensic testing will determine if any of them were used during the shooting.
The Colorado police are conducting a complex investigation into the incident, aiming to uncover the full details and bring those responsible to justice.
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Written by: Bert Hoover
WATCH: Shooting erupts near Denver Nuggets championship parade - From NBC News