POLICE: ONE KILLED IN SHOOTING AMID DUELING PROTESTS

One person is in custody after a fatal shooting amid dueling demonstrations in downtown Denver, police said Saturday, in the latest deadly violence to unfold at the scene of tense protests.

Protesters were just starting to disperse from a park Saturday afternoon, police said, when officers working the events reported shots fired and then said that they had someone in custody. The violence — under investigation as a homicide — followed a “verbal altercation,” according to Joe Montoya, division chief of investigations for the Dentaken ver Police Department.

Right-wing demonstrators had gathered at the city’s Civic Center for a “Patriot Rally,” according to the Denver Post, as did left-wing activists holding an event they called “Blm-antifa Soup Drive.” Police said Saturday the suspect was a private security guard contracted with a local TV station and had “no affiliation with Antifa,” but that they are still trying to determine any relevant affiliations and connections of both gunman and victim.

“There was a large [police] presence because we had two groups with opposing views, and we know that can always get very tense,” Montoya said at a news conference, adding that authorities tried their best to keep groups separate. “And there’s always potential for violence.”

The incident occurred after a man participating in the Patriot Rally sprayed mace at another man. That man then shot the other individual with a handgun near the courtyard outside the Denver Art Museum, according to a Denver Post journalist who witnessed the incident.

Police said they could not confirm that Saturday, but said a mace canister was found at the scene. Two firearms were also recovered from the scene, according to Montoya.

The person who was shot was

to a hospital and later pronounced dead, police said. Neither the alleged gunman nor the victim was identified by authorities.

Few details were available Saturday, and authorities said they are interviewing witnesses. Montoya said he hopes to release more information about the individuals involved as soon as possible, suggesting that rumors could further inf lame the situation and lead to more violence.

Some protests have drawn heavily armed groups, raising fears of a confrontation. Those caught up in the violence have sometimes had little affiliation to the political causes drawing protesters.