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Denver Police Investigate Whether 2 Nearby Shootings Were Related

DENVER (CBS4) - There were two victims involved in two shootings near Valentia Street Tuesday night.

Police initially responded to reports of two people shot at the corner of East 16th Avenue and Valentia Street, south of Stapleton about 8:40 p.m.

A female, later identified as Rachel Aboytes, 21, was found in the street and pronounced deceased. Another woman had been grazed in the head but had non-life threatening injuries.

Neighbors said they heard a round of shots fired and when they came outside saw a group of women arguing, and one person standing over a woman's body.

"All of a sudden I heard the shots and I was like, 'Man those are close.' And I came to the door and I looked out and see people shooting, and I didn't see who the suspect was," witness Fred Johnson said.

A short time later, at about 9:15 p.m., another shooting occurred just a block away in the area of 8300 East Colfax Avenue.

VALENTIA SHOOTING 12VO.tran
(credit: CBS)

Denver police responded to shots fired near the corner of Valentia Street and East Colfax Avenue, where an injured victim was found. Police did not expand on her injuries but said the woman is expected to be recover.

"I heard gunshots. I looked at my roommate and said, 'Okay, I think that's bad.' I came out here, she called 911," said neighbor Valerie.

Because the two victims were found within a block of each other and around the same time, police are looking into whether the shootings are related.

Police do not have a suspect description and are still investigating a motive. The area remained an active crime scene and was closed off Wednesday morning.

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