Guard ID’d in fatal shooting at Denver protests
DENVER — Police identified Sunday a 30-year-old man as the suspect in a fatal shooting that took place in downtown Denver during dueling protests.
Matthew Dolloff, a private security guard working for local television station KUSA TV, was jailed for investigation of firstdegree murder in connection with Saturday’s shooting, Denver police said in a social media post.
A decision on any charges will be up to the Denver District Attorney’s Office, police said. A spokesperson for District Attorney Beth McCann said Sunday that the arrest affidavit in the case remained sealed and referred further questions to the police. It was uncertain if Dolloff had retained an attorney.
The shooting took place Saturday afternoon in Civic Center Park after a man took part in whatwas billed a “Patriot Rally” slapped and sprayedMace at a man who appeared to beDolloff, The Denver Post reported based on its photographs from the scene.
The man identified by the newspaper as Dolloff drew a gun from his waistband and shot the other individual near the courtyard outside theDenver Art Museum, according to The Denver Post journalist who witnessed the incident.
Themanwhowas shot— identified by his son as Lee Keltner, 49, a Navy veteran who operated a hat-making business in the area — was taken to a nearby hospital, wherehe died anhour later, KUSA said.
The shooting occurred beneath a city surveillance camera and police said they have footage of the incident, KUSA reported.
On its website, KUSA said that it had contracted the private security guard who was arrested in connection with the shooting.
“It has been the practice of 9NEWS for a number of months to hire private security to accompany staff at protests,” the station said.