A man was shot Tuesday night by a Denver officer investigating fireworks in the city’s Montbello neighborhood, according to the police department.
The shooting happened just after 9 p.m. Tuesday in the driveway of a home in the 4300 block of North Del Rio Court, Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas said in a news briefing.
As of that Tuesday night briefing, the man was in surgery with serious injuries, Thomas said.
Two Denver officers were patrolling the area that night when they heard fireworks, Thomas said.
As the officers drove north on Del Rio from East 43rd Avenue, they found a group of five people standing outside of a house next to a fireworks launcher, Thomas said.
One of the five reportedly began walking away toward the house as officers approached and reached for his waistband, according to Thomas.
Thomas said officers told the man to stop, but he allegedly pulled a gun out of his waistband while facing the two Denver officers.
That’s when one officer shot the man twice, striking him at least once in the leg. The man and the officer have not been publicly identified.
The shooting remains under investigation.
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