Police Investigating Fatal Shooting In Liquor Store Parking Lot
DENVER, Colo. (CBS4) – A man has died after he was shot outside of a liquor store in Denver's Five Points neighborhood.
The unidentified man, who was struck by gunfire around 7:15 p.m. Saturday, was pronounced dead at an area hospital.
The deadly gunshots shattered one glass door and put a bullet hole through another door at Washington Liquor Store located on 20th Avenue and Park Avenue.
The victim's neighbor said the victim was in his 30s and that people close to him called him "Joker." They also said that he leaves behind two children and that he lived near the area where the shooting took place.
Police said that an argument broke out between members of two small groups of people who were in the parking lot of the shopping center.
Witnesses heard the gunfire.
"I heard 'pop pop pop pop pop,'" said one witness, who is known as Brooklyn.
A liquor store employee told CBS4's Melissa Garcia that the victim ran into the store after he was shot.
Officers securing the crime scene turned away customers, including Luis Serrano.
"I told (officers) that I wanted to get a beer, and they said, 'Well, you can't get a beer (here) tonight,'" Serrano said.
The gunfire left workers at another liquor store nearby feeling worried about their safety. One store cashier was even considering finding a different job.
"I live and work within a mile radius," said Wiley Deerman, who works near the shooting location. "I know my neighbors. I walk down the street, and I wave left and right to people, and I love that sense of community for living and working in the same (area)."
"It's kind of horrifying," added Robbie Barclay, a friend and coworker of Deerman. "It makes you want to move out of the city for sure. The crime is crazy here."
A Denver police spokesperson could not say whether the shooting was gang-related or what may have motivated the violence.
"It's a sad, unfortunate turn of events," Serrano said. "But hopefully this will show us that violence is not the answer."
As of Sunday afternoon, police had not arrested any suspects, nor were they able to provide any suspect information.
Anyone with information was asked to call police.
Additional Information From The Denver Police Department
Remain anonymous and earn up to $2,000. Call Crime Stoppers at (720) 913-STOP (7867). Text to CRIMES (274637) then title DMCS and enter the message, or send an e-mail to metro-denvercrimestoppers.com; or use the Metro Denver Crime Stoppers mobile app which is immediately available as a free download on smartphones.
Melissa Garcia has been reporting for CBS4 News since March 2014. Find her bio here, follow her on Twitter @MelissaGarciaTV, or send your story idea to mkgarcia@cbs.com.
