A series of shootings at multiple locations in the Denver, Colorado area have left several people dead and a police officer injured, authorities said Monday night during a news conference.
Police say there are at least five dead, including the suspect.
“There are four significant shooting locations in the city and county of Denver,” said Denver Police Chief Paul Pazen.
The first shooting started just after 5 p.m. MT (7 p.m. ET) on First and Broadway – three people were shot, leaving two adult women dead and one adult man wounded, according to Pazen.
Police stand outside the Belmar Mall on December 27 in Lakewood, Colorado.
The second shooting occurred at 12th and Williams streets – an adult male was killed at this location, Chief Pazen said.
A third shooting took place near 6th Avenue and Cherokee – a gun was fired but there were no injuries at that location, the police chief said.
Persecution and clashes with the police
Denver Police officers identified a vehicle associated with this incident, a chase took place and there was an exchange of gunfire between the suspect and officers, Chief Pazen continued. No officers were injured.
Pazen added: “We believe that the individual, after disabling the police car, fled to Lakewood.”
Lakewood police received a shooting warning call just before 6 p.m. MT (8 p.m. ET) at a business at 1500 Kipling, according to Lakewood Police spokesman John Romero.
Police officers work at the scene where two women were killed and a man injured in a shooting on December 27, in Denver, Colorado.
One person was pronounced dead at the scene, Romero said during the news conference.
Lakewood police were able to obtain a description of the vehicle and the suspect. Then he was able to identify the car and tried to contact the driver, who fired at police, whose officers returned fire, Romero said.
The suspect escaped and then fled on foot to the Belmar shopping area.
The suspect “allegedly threatened another business with a firearm before retiring to the Hyatt Place,” according to Romero.
At the hotel, the suspect “allegedly shot one of the dependents there – that person was taken to the hospital – we do not know the extent of the injuries there or exactly how that person is,” Romero continued.
The suspect then fled the area and confronted a Lakewood police officer – he shot and wounded the agent, who was undergoing surgery.
More shots were exchanged with the police and the suspect, and the suspect died at the scene.
There is no threat to the community, authorities said.
The motive for the shooting is unknown and the investigation is ongoing.