Witness To 4/20 Shooting Describes Being Up Close When It Happened
DENVER (CBS4) - A man police were searching for as a person of interest in the shooting of three people in Civic Center Park during the 4/20 marijuana celebration on Saturday has talked to police and wasn't arrested.
Police in Denver released video on Sunday that they hoped would help them catch the gunman responsible for the shooting. The man in the video turned himself into police and was interviewed and released. Police haven't released his identity.
The non-fatal shooting disrupted what had been a peaceful gathering. Thousands ran for their lives after the shots rang out and some people were trampled and suffered injuries.
The video shows people scattering from near where the shots were fired.
"We believe that it's probably one shooter but there's two individuals that might have information or that were involved," said Denver police spokesman Sonny Jackson.
Denver police are still looking for a black man who was wearing a gray hoodie, black slacks and a blue Carolina baseball hat. He was described as being 6 feet tall and about 180 pounds.
After the shots went off, Shawn Eash, 22, sat bloodied on a curb. He believes the man in the photo police released and a man with a hoodie were responsible for the shootings.
"They might have thought I was with the guy, but I'm not really sure," Eash told CBS4's Rick Sallinger.
He says the men approached him without warning.
"And then I get from behind in the jaw and then kicked in the ribs when I was on the ground," Eash said. "After I was getting up, somebody shot; the guy that I was talking to got hit in the leg twice and they shot his dog."
While others ran, Eash stayed and helped the man who had been shot in the leg. Eash said he had apparent gang tattoos.
"I took off my work shirt and tied it around his leg and kept pressure on his leg so he didn't bleed out until the paramedics arrived," Eash said.
A band was playing on stage, but the music suddenly stopped when the gunfire rang out and the show was over. Simes Carter was among those performing.
"I'm rapping and I hear pop, pop, pop, pop; and I look to the right of me and I just see people tumbling down the hills running, running, I mean thousands of people running," Carter said.
Authorities so far haven't said what the circumstances might have been that led to the shooting. It happened in an area of the park where people were attending a loud rap concert. A man and a woman each suffered gunshot wounds and a third person was grazed by a bullet.
PHOTO GALLERY: 4/20 Shooting At Civic Center Park
Copter4 was flying above the event and video captured by the helicopter shows a group of men in white T-shirts running through the crowd. They are followed by a man who pauses when shots are fired. Then he turns around and sprints faster than anyone in the opposite direction as the crowd scatters in panic. Police have not indicated if that is actually the shooter.
Denver police said they were prepared for the event, but no bags or people were searched for weapons.
"We have situations all the time where things like this happen. You can have all the security in the world and things can happen," Jackson said.
The police department's gang unit is now working on the case.
Additional Resources
Denver police have been asking for witness accounts and video that was taken at the time of the shooting. They also posted the following bulletin:
"Anyone with information regarding this Shooting or recognizes the individual in the please contact Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP (7867). You can text to CRIMES (274637) then title DMCS and enter your message or send an e-mail to metro-denvercrimestoppers.com. If the information you provide leads to the arrest and charging of a wanted individual, you can receive a cash reward up to $2,000.
