Two arrests made in shootout
Denver police say that fatal gunfire in the Ballpark area was not random.
Denver police have arrested two people in connection with a Monday evening shootout in the Ballpark neighborhood that left one man dead, four others injured and an inner-city neighborhood rattled.
The shooting led police Chief Paul Pazen to pledge to address crime concerns in the area and prompted Mayor Michael Hancock to release a public statement, promising to give police the needed resources to address public safety issues. The Ballpark area is a mix of shelters and other agencies that serve the poor and homeless as well as trendy apartment complexes, restaurants and bars.
Pazen attempted to soothe worried residents by saying the shooting was not random. Still, it was not acceptable, he said.
“We do not tolerate people shooting guns in the middle of our city,” Pazen said.
Joshua Hayward, 24, has been arrested for investigation of firstdegree murder and DaShae Armstrong, 23, has been arrested on a federal weapon charge, Pazen said.
“This was an exchange of gunfire between two individuals,” Pazen said. “We believe this was a targeted shooting. It was not random.”
One person, who has not been identified, was killed. Two people who were shot remain hospitalized in serious condition at Denver Health Medical Center while two other people have been released, said Simon Crittle, a Denver Health spokesman.
The chief declined to directly answer whether any of the victims, including the deceased man, were innocent bystanders who happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Pazen would not discuss details about the victims, but added that the suspect put a lot of people in danger.
Hayward was at-large until he was arrested Tuesday morning on suspicion of first-degree murder, Pazen said. Armstrong was one of the four people hospitalized with injuries following the shooting.
Hancock extended condolences to the family of the dead man and to the four who were injured.
“Shootings like these and other recent tragedies in the neighborhood are unacceptable. The victims deserve justice and the people responsible for these horrible acts will be held accountable,” said Hancock, who added that he has been in constant contact with police since the shooting. “Our officers worked through the night to find the individuals responsible for this shooting, and they deserve our gratitude for their dedication and service. We’re going to
ensure our officers have whatever they need to keep all our residents safe.”
Investigators continue to question witnesses to figure out who was targeted and who was aiming at whom, Pazen said.
The shooting happened in the area of 21st and Lawrence streets, southeast of Coors Field. It was the second shooting in two days in the area.
On Sunday, a man was ar- rested in connection with the beating and strangling death of another man near the intersection of Park Avenue West and Lawrence Street.
Pazen repeatedly was questioned about downtown safety during a Tuesday afternoon news conference. He acknowledged the public safety issues in the area.
“We are keenly aware of the challenges that we are facing in this particular area, and we are taking many proactive steps to address this,” Pazen said.
Hayward and Armstrong have criminal records.
Hayward had prior convictions for drug possession and attempting to riot in a detention center in 2013. He served a two-year probation sentence for weapons possession by a previous offender and criminal impersonation in March of 2018. At the time of the shooting, he was serving an 18-month community corrections sentence after violating his probation.
Armstrong had two prior felony drug dealing convictions in 2014 for which he served probationary sentences.