Denver Police Investigating Motorcycle Show Gun Battle That Left 1 Dead, More Injured

Motorcycle Show Gun Battle
Denver police responded to reports of multiple shootings and a stabbing near the Denver Coliseum Saturday afternoon. Photo by Denver Police/Twitter.

DENVER, Jan. 30 (Gephardt Daily) — The Denver Police Department is investigating a deadly gun and knife fight that broke out at a Denver motorcycle show.

One person is confirmed dead and a half dozen or so remain hospitalized after the incident, which broke out at 12:48 p.m. Mountain Standard Time on Saturday inside the National Western Complex Hall. Denver police originally reported the site as the Denver Coliseum, which is nearby.

Denver Police Department Chief Robert White said at an afternoon news conference that two rival motorcycle clubs were “possibly” involved. Video shot after the incident showed police talking to groups of bikers wearing jackets with different club patches, according to a CNN report.

The fatality was caused by a shooting, and three others were wounded by gunfire, White said. One person was stabbed and three other people suffered injuries probably caused by the fight, but not by weapons, White said.

A Denver Post article quoted witness Britney Shaw, a jewelry vendor at the event, who said she saw approximately 50 men brawling in a stairs area that was later cordoned off by police, and which she said was covered with blood.

Bob Cook, a witness who was selling leather goods at the event, told the Denver Post that he heard two shots fired, and saw people dive under tables. Cook said he didn’t hear any arguments before the shooting and didn’t know what prompted it.

Cook told the Denver Post there were puddles of blood on the floor, but minutes later, the scene returned to normal.

“Everyone is so desensitized,” he reportedly said, as he pointed to dried blood on the floor, which people were walking over.

Spokesmen for the Denver Heath Medical Center reported different numbers of wounded being treated throughout the afternoon. The first number quoted was nine injured, which was then updated to six, with three being critical and three being in stable condition. A number quoted after that was seven.

White said approximately 10,000 people were inside the National Western Complex hall when the shots were fired. Building administrators made the decision not to close the motorcycle show, but to stop letting new people in. They did cancel the event’s second day, Sunday.

This is a developing story. More information will be released as it becomes available.

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