On June 13, 2023, a mass shooting occurred in downtown Denver, Colorado. The shooting happened at about 12:30 AM, about three hours after the Denver Nuggets won the NBA Finals. Near the intersection of 20th Street and 2000 Market Street, a shooting occurred.
Ten people were injured in the shooting, including one of the suspects. The suspect, 22-year-old Ricardo Miquel Vazquez, was wounded in the shooting and was arrested after a police chase. Vazquez was charged with ten counts of attempted first-degree murder.
The other nine victims were transported to Denver Health Medical Center. Five victims were in critical condition, but all are expected to survive.
Police believe that the shooting was drug-related. A “significant quantity” of suspected fentanyl pills was found at the scene, along with cash.
The shooting occurred as thousands of people celebrated the Denver Nuggets’ NBA championship win. The shooting was a stark reminder of the dangers of gun violence in the United States.
In the wake of the shooting, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock called for a citywide gun buyback program. Hancock also called for stricter gun control laws.
The Denver shooting is the latest in a series of mass shootings in the US. In the past year, over 200 mass shootings have occurred in the United States. These shootings have claimed the lives of hundreds of people and injured thousands more.
The mass shooting in Denver is a tragedy that should never have happened. It is a reminder of the need for stricter gun control laws in the United States.
Here are some of the things that can be done to prevent mass shootings:
- Assault weapons and high-capacity magazines are banned, as are red flag laws, which ensure strict gun control laws are enforced.
- Mental health care: This includes increased funding for mental health services and programs and making it easier for people to get the help they need.
- Community engagement: This includes working with communities to build trust and relationships and address violence’s root causes.
We need to do everything we can to prevent mass shootings from happening. We cannot allow these tragedies to become the norm.
In addition to the above, here are some other things that can be done to help prevent mass shootings:
- Be aware of your surroundings: If you are in a public place, be mindful of potential threats and be prepared to take necessary action.
- Report suspicious activity: If you see something that doesn’t seem right, report it to the authorities.
- Talk to your loved ones about gun violence: Discuss the dangers of gun violence and how to prevent it.
- Get involved in your community: Get involved in local organizations working to prevent gun violence.
We all have a role to play in preventing mass shootings. By working together, we can make our communities safer.
Among the wounded was 22-year-old suspect Ricardo Mikel Vazquez, who was arrested on charges of possessing a weapon by a prior felon and possessing a controlled substance.
Clark noted it was likely that some of the wounded were also possibly involved in the shooting.
“While we know some of the offenders were injured by gunfire, we also know that several innocent people in the area were hit by rounds that were fired,” Clark said.
Two men have been taken into custody for the incident. As a previous offender, Ricardo Vasquez, 22, has been charged with possessing a weapon and possessing drugs. According to Clark, Raoul Jones, 33, is being held on a charge of possession of a firearm by a previous offender. Clark said additional charges may be added as the investigation continues.
Earlier, officers indicated a suspect they had taken into custody had been shot.
“We recognize it’s likely that the individuals responsible for … discharging the firearms downtown were also injured by gunfire,” Clark said.
The area was taped off, and evidence markers were at the scene.
He said a small crowd was in the area at the time of the shooting but had “diminished quite a bit at that point.” He said the shooting was where many people might have come out of bars after the game.
Police were interviewing witnesses, and Schepman described the ongoing investigation as “expansive.”
