DENVER — One man is in custody after a stabbing at a migrant encampment that left a man dead on Thanksgiving morning.
It happened Thursday just before 11 a.m. on the corner of Lawrence Street and Park Avenue West downtown, just outside of the Denver Rescue Mission.
"We don't mess with anyone, we sleep there, this is where Colombians, Venezuelans and Hondurans sleep... we don't mess with anyone, and we keep everything clean," said Carlos Alberto Betancourt, a migrant in Denver from Colombia, in Spanish.
Betancourt has been staying at the homeless encampment at Lawrence Street and Park Avenue West with other Colombian and Venezuelan migrants.
Betancourt said he was here Thursday when a man came to the camp, threatening those staying here with a knife.
Police said when another man tried to intervene, that man was stabbed and killed.
The suspect, identified as Gido Izquierdo-Ortega, was subdued by those at the camp and later arrested by police.
But Betancourt said this all started Wednesday, when Izquierdo-Ortega and a group of men came to their camp, shouting offensive things at the group.
"We stayed quiet, we didn't play along and didn't start problems," Betancourt said. "The next day, one of the guys who was here arrived with a knife and started to stab that tent over there, to a fellow Venezuelan immigrant who — had he not been quick — they would've stuck a knife in his throat. He ran off."
Betancourt pointed out that one of his friends, who he said is an immigrant from Honduras, was also threatened. "If he hadn't run, he would've been hurt too," he said.
According to the probable cause statement, one witness told police the suspect was yelling at them because they were immigrants from Venezuela. She told police she used a stick to defend herself against Izquierdo-Ortega, who was armed with the knife.
Betancourt said he flagged police to alert them of the issue. Police stopped by but left before the stabbing.
The stabbing victim was taken to Denver Health Medical Center but later died. His identity has not yet been released.
According to the probable cause statement, after the stabbing, witnesses told police bystanders threw items at Izquierdo-Ortega, including a concrete block to subdue him, knocking him to the ground.
Denver Police said Izquierdo-Ortega was taken to the hospital for treatment and was released. He's now being held in the Denver County jail.
Betancourt said what happened Thursday is frustrating for those staying at the camps.
"We didn't come here to harm anyone," Betancourt said. "We didn't come here to hurt anyone. Why do they mess with you?"
Izquierdo-Ortega is being held on preliminary charges of first-degree murder. Final charging decisions will be made by the Denver DA's office.
9NEWS reached out to the Denver Rescue Mission, which serves many experiencing homelessness in the Denver community. The stabbing took place very close by to their community center on Lawrence Street. In a statement, they said, "We are deeply saddened by this incident. The Mission is committed to assisting with the complexities of homelessness. Our staff remains unwavering in our pursuit to help any person in need around our facilities. Our prayers are with the victim's friends and family."
9NEWS also reached out to the Denver Police Department to ask why officers didn't stay to help diffuse the situation at the homeless camp Thursday before the stabbing took place as well as what work is being done to prevent incidents like this. They sent back a statement, "While there have been some incidents recently that have occurred near encampments, the Denver Police Department continues working to decrease crime in those areas. Officers routinely patrol areas that have had increased incidents of crime and also conduct surveillance to spot concerning behaviors that should be addressed immediately. Also, by working with city and local partners to identify root causes and help provide services to people who are living in these encampments, the department is taking a proactive approach to addressing conditions around these encampments. DPD will continue to work with residents and stakeholders in these areas to ensure the safety in these communities."
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