Controversy Surrounds Deadly Shooting At Motorcycle Expo, 'Why No Arrests?'
DENVER (CBS4)- The man at the center of the controversy surrounding the deadly shooting at the National Western Complex on Saturday is Colorado Department of Corrections employee Derrick Duran.
With one man dead and several others injured during the Colorado Motorcycle Expo, the question has been asked, "Why no arrests?"
In one photo, Duran is seen holding a gun. He is in clothing associated with the Iron Order motorcycle club. A member of the Mongols motorcycle club, Victor Mendoza, 46, was killed on Saturday and six others were wounded.
John C. Whitfield, an attorney for the Iron Order, told CBS4, "The 16 Iron Order members there were sorely outnumbered. This altercation all started because of the Mongols and their attempt to harm and kill some of our members."
In another photo, Duran is seen with his hands behind his back presumably cuffed.
Then in another picture he is standing with police with his hands not cuffed.
But the lawyer for the Mongols, Stephen Stubbs, claims that Duran fired his weapon and should be in custody.
"The entire motorcycle community gets the impression that Mr. Duran is being given preferential treatment because he is law enforcement," said Stubbs.
Denver police insisted no special treatment was given to the Iron Order which has been identified with law enforcement in the past.
On Monday, Denver Police Cmdr. Ron Saunier said, "The group that was down here, I'd be willing to come back, are not willing to identify to us that they have law enforcement ties or connections."
With each side blaming the other this investigation may take time until any charges are filed.
Duran has not been arrested or charged. He remained on paid administrative leave from the Department of Corrections.
The Mongols are a club well known as outlaws. They are headquartered in California with chapters in more than a dozen states. The Iron Order disavows the hard core label. They have been associated with law enforcement bikers at times.
CBS4's Rick Sallinger is a Peabody award winning reporter who has been with the station more than two decades doing hard news and investigative reporting. Follow him on Twitter @ricksallinger.
