PHOTO: AP PHOTO/DAVID ZALUBOWSKI
Denver, CO – Ten people were injured in a shooting early Tuesday morning near the arena where the Denver Nuggets won their first NBA championship.
The shooting happened around 12:30 a.m., just over three hours after the Nuggets defeated the Miami Heat in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.
Police said the shooting took place in an area where fans were celebrating the Nuggets’ victory.
“There was a large crowd of people in the area,” Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas said at a news conference. “It was a very chaotic scene.”
At least 20 rounds were fired with five men and one woman being taken to the hospital with gunshot wounds. All of the victims are expected to survive.
Two suspects were taken into custody after a police chase.
One of the suspects, 22-year-old Ricardo Vazquez, was injured in the shooting. He is being held on suspicion of attempted murder and possession of a controlled substance. The other suspect, 33-year-old Raoul Jones, is being held on suspicion of possession of a weapon by a previous offender. Police said the shooting may have been drug-related.
“We believe it may have stemmed from a drug deal,” Thomas said. The shooting is a reminder of the dangers of gun violence. “This is a tragedy. We cannot allow this to happen again.”
The Nuggets’ victory was a joyous occasion for the city of Denver. But the shooting that followed cast a dark shadow over the celebration. “This is a sad day for our city,” Thomas said. “But we will not let this define us.”
