Denver police say one person is dead and at least six injured in a shooting and stabbing at a motorcycle show held at the Denver Coliseum.
Police spokeswoman Raquel Lopez told reporters: “At approximately 12.48pm we had a disturbance that began here at the National Western Stock Show Colorado.” There were shots fired and “at least one stabbing”, she said.
She said there was “one deceased party and multiple other victims were taken to the hospital”.
“At this time the event is still going but we do have officers in there,” Lopez said, though she could not say when the event would end. No one was in custody though at least one person was being questioned, she added.
No police or firefighters were injured, she said, and police had evacuated some people from the complex.
Kevin McVaney, the medical director for Denver Paramedics, said first responders had transported seven patients from the scene.
One of those patients did not survive, he said. “We have three patients in critical condition and we have three patients in stable condition,” McVaney said. He would not confirm an earlier report that nine people were taken to hospital.
He said that the hospital has been locked down on the advice of Denver police, and declined to elaborate further.
Bob Cook, a witness to the shooting, told the Denver Post that he heard no arguments before two rounds were fired, and that despite the violence and blood on the floor, passersby were acting normally only a few minutes later. “Everyone is so desensitized,” he said. “It’s so surreal.”
Police said events would continue as scheduled at the stadium, and although officers taped off sections of the complex people continued to meander between events and shop.
A post on the Colorado Motorcycle Expo Facebook page said events would also proceed as scheduled on Sunday.
“Rest assured that all of the offending parties have been ejected and all is well,” the posting said.
