DENVER — Police arrested a third suspect Friday in connection with a shooting in Lower Downtown Denver that injured 10 people including nine innocent bystanders who were celebrating the Denver Nuggets' championship win earlier that night.
The Denver Police Department said the shooting happened around 12:30 a.m. on June 13 near 20th and Market streets.
DPD said their investigation revealed the shooting was likely the result of a fight that broke out during a drug deal.
Two people were arrested in connection with the shooting, including one of the people hit by gunfire. Ricardo Vazquez, 23, was arrested for investigation of possession of a weapon by a previous offender and possession of a controlled substance. Raoul Jones, 33, was arrested for possession of a weapon by a previous offender, according to police.
Police said their investigation led them to a third suspect, 24-year-old Kenneth Blakely. On Friday, he was arrested and is being held for investigation of attempted first-degree murder.
According to a probable cause statement, Blakely and Vazquez were involved in an exchange of gunfire in which Blakely likely pointed his gun at Vazquez first and Vazquez responded by firing his gun and striking "multiple parties" before he fled the scene.
Vazquez had a gunshot wound when police arrested him. All of the gunshot victims are expected to survive.
The probable cause statement does not indicate that Jones was involved in the incident. A previously released document says he was arrested for having a gun he was not legally allowed to have because of a previous felony menacing conviction.
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