The Topgolf employee Thornton police allege shot and killed a coworker in the business’s parking lot Dec. 23 clocked out early and waited in the parking lot for an hour before apparently ambushing the victim and firing 12 rounds at him, according to a probable cause affidavit.
A witness also told officers Victor Salazar-Guarache, 26, appeared to laugh as he was leaving the scene after shooting Bryce Holden, 22, and shooting at another coworker.
Salazar-Guarache is facing a first-degree murder charge and two counts of attempted first-degree murder in the shooting in Adams County District Court.
Thornton police officers responded at 12:50 a.m. Dec. 23 to the Topgolf at 16011 Grant St. to a call of a man down on the ground after being shot, according to the affidavit, where they found Holden. Holden later died at a hospital.
Investigators found both Salazar-Guarache and Holden were dishwashers at Topgolf, and Salazar-Guarache left work early at 11:42 p.m. The kitchen manager told investigators he did not know why Salazar-Guarache left early.
Salazar-Guarache went to the parking lot and got in his vehicle, then drove around the parking lot, according to the affidavit.
An hour later a 12:49 a.m., Holden and the kitchen manager closed the Topgolf kitchen and started walking to their cars together.
Video footage and witness statements placed Salazar-Guarache parked in the aisle closest to the building. As Holden and the manager entered the parking lot, Salazar-Guarache exited his vehicle and took “a shooting stance, firing at Bryce” and the kitchen manager, according to the affidavit.
Holden fell after the first shot, and Salazar-Guarache continued to shoot, according to the affidavit, firing a total of 12 rounds. The kitchen manager ran back toward the business.
A Lyft driver who was picking up another Topgolf employee told officers he saw Salazar-Guarache exit his vehicle, according to the affidavit, and when he returned to his vehicle, the Lyft driver said it appeared Salazar-Guarache was laughing.
Larimer County deputies found Salazar-Guarache a few hours later traveling north on Interstate 25 and took him into custody.
Salazar-Guarache’s preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 29.
