9 SHOT AT PARK DURING “FAMILY GATHERING”
Nine people were shot during a family gathering in a Denver park Sunday.
The shooting, which appeared to be a drive-by attack, happened at about 4:28 p.m. in the Byers and Pecos park in the 1400 block of West Byers Place, according to Denver police spokesman Tyrone Campbell.
All of the wounded are expected to survive, he said. Six victims were taken to hospitals in ambulances and another three victims arrived at hospitals on their own after the shooting, Campbell said.
The victims include “young” people, he said, although he was not able to give specific ages or say how many young people were hurt Sunday. He also did not know if the victims were related.
In the park, lawn chairs sat overturned and picnic tables full of food and drinks stood abandoned. An evidence marker sat in the street. Witnesses nearby said they heard gunfire and then saw people running from the area.
Campbell said police had partial suspect information but did not release any details on a suspect or a motive Sunday evening.
“It sounds like it was just a family gathering,” Campbell said.
“The parties in the park, based on our information, have absolutely no culpability in this at all. They are considered victims.”
The attack comes during an uptick of violence in Denver this summer, with the city on track to see its deadliest year in a decade. Campbell asked for witnesses or anyone with information on the shooting to come forward and work with police.
“The bottom line is, from a Denver Police Department standpoint and from a community standpoint, this is unacceptable,” Campbell said.