by Denver, Colorado — A late-night celebration in southeast Denver turned deadly after a shooting at a party reportedly marking the arrest of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, leaving a 16-year-old boy dead and three adults wounded, according to police. Authorities say no suspects have been identified and the investigation remains ongoing.
Shooting reported near South Galena Street
According to the Denver Police Department, officers responded to reports of gunfire near South Galena Street and East Hampden Avenue just after 11 p.m. Saturday.
In an initial update posted on social media, police said they located one shooting victim at the scene, who was transported to a hospital with injuries that were not immediately disclosed.
Additional victims found hours later
Several hours later, at approximately 7:45 a.m. Sunday, police announced that three additional victims connected to the same incident had been located.
Two of the injured adults were taken to area hospitals in private vehicles. A third victim — the 16-year-old boy — was also transported in a private vehicle but died near South Havana Street and East Iliff Avenue, roughly 1.5 miles north of where the shooting initially occurred.
Police confirmed the surviving adult victims are 26, 29, and 33 years old. None of the victims have been publicly identified.
Party reportedly celebrated Maduro’s arrest
A nearby business owner told CBS News Colorado that a large party had been underway in a parking lot prior to the shooting. The gathering was reportedly celebrating what attendees believed to be the arrest of Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces the previous night.
Police later confirmed that the party was indeed tied to celebrations surrounding Maduro’s reported arrest, though authorities have not provided details on how that information was circulated or verified among attendees.
Witnesses also reported seeing a food truck displaying a Venezuelan flag, an American flag, and a third unidentified flag at the scene. CBS Colorado said it attempted to reach the food truck’s owner for comment but did not receive a response as of Sunday evening.
Argument led to gunfire, police say
Denver police later said the shooting erupted after an argument broke out during the celebration.
“There was an argument that resulted in a shooting, but we don’t know who started it,” said DPD Sgt. Katherine McCandless.
Investigators said they are still working to piece together the sequence of events that led to the violence and have not yet determined how many people may have been involved.
No suspect information released
As of Sunday evening, police said they had no suspect descriptions and had not made any arrests.
“Officers are working to gather more information,” the department said in a statement. “The investigation is ongoing.”
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Detectives are canvassing the area, reviewing potential surveillance footage, and speaking with witnesses who attended or were near the party.
Community shaken as investigation continues
The killing of a teenager and the wounding of three adults has left the surrounding community shaken, particularly given the chaotic nature of the overnight incident and the lack of suspect information.
Police are urging anyone who witnessed the shooting or has video, photos, or other information to contact investigators.
Did you see or hear anything near South Galena Street or East Hampden Avenue Saturday night?
Anyone with information is encouraged to contact Denver police or submit tips anonymously as detectives continue working to identify those responsible.
