LAKEWOOD, Colo. — Authorities in Colorado say a gunman killed five people and injured three others, including a police officer, in a series of shootings Monday night that spanned across Denver and ended in the nearby suburb of Lakewood.
The gunman also died after exchanging gunfire with police in a shopping area in Lakewood.
Four of the five victims have been identified, authorities said Tuesday at a press conference.
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According to Denver Police Chief Paul Pazen, the shooting spree started a little after 5 p.m. local time at First Avenue and Broadway. Three people were shot. The gunman allegedly killed two women and injured a man, according to Pazen.
One of the women killed in that shooting has been identified by family members as 44-year-old Alicia Cardenas.
The other two people shot at this location were identified as a Sol Tribe artist in the ICU (Denver7 is not identifying him) and his wife Alyssa Gunn-Maldonado, who died of her injuries.
Her husband is expected to survive his injuries.
A short time later, officers were dispatched to a second shooting at 12th and Williams. Police say the gunman killed one person in that shooting.
Pazen said officers were then dispatched to a third incident, located at 6th Avenue and Cherokee.
According to Pazen, a gun was fired, but no one was injured.
Around 8th and Zuni, officers identified the vehicle associated with the three shootings.
Pazen said a pursuit ensued, and there was an exchange of gunfire. No officers were injured during that shooting. At that point, Pazen says the suspect "disabled the vehicle" and fled into Lakewood.
Just before 6 p.m., officers with the Lakewood Police Department received a call about a shooting at a tattoo shop in the 1500 block of Kipling, according to John Romero, a public information officer with Lakewood PD.
Danny Scofield, 38, was shot and killed at Lucky 13 Tattoo, where he was a tattoo artist.
Authorities received a description of the suspect and suspect vehicle. Soon after, Lakewood police spotted the vehicle in the Belmar shopping area.
When officers attempted to make contact with the driver, the driver fired at police, Romero said. Officers returned fire.
The driver took off on foot and fled into the Belmar shopping area.
Romero said at that point, the suspect "felony menaced another business with a firearm" before retreating to a nearby hotel.
Sarah Steck, 28, was working as the hotel clerk at the Hyatt House in Lakewood Monday night when the suspect entered the hotel and shot her multiple times.
She was transported to the hospital and passed away from her injuries Tuesday.
After fleeing the hotel, the suspect was confronted by an officer with the Lakewood Police Department. The suspect shot and injured the officer. Romero said that the officer underwent surgery to treat his injuries.
Romero said that gunfire was exchanged between the suspect and other officers, and the suspect was killed.
Authorities are still investigating what started the crime spree. Police say there is no current threat to the public.
This story was originally published by Sydney Isenberg on Scripps station KMGH in Denver.
