Global Courant
Two people were shot Thursday at the end of a parade and rally to celebrate Denver Nuggets’ first NBA championship, and a police officer was hit by a fire truck in another incident during the event, authorities said.
The shooting occurred after the parade and festivities on Curtis Street and 17th Street, Denver police said. Two victims were found.
A gunman shot two men in a targeted incident, Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas told reporters at a news conference.
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Fans pack Civic Center Park for a rally and parade to mark Denver Nuggets’ first NBA basketball championship on Thursday. A police officer was hit by a fire truck and two people were injured by gunfire at the end of the victory parade, authorities said. (AP)
Investigators believe the shooting had nothing to do with the event. Authorities have an image of a suspect, who has not been identified and was not in police custody, officials said.
In a separate incident that occurred an hour prior to the shooting, Denver SWAT Sgt. Justin Dodger was hit by a fire truck carrying several Nugget players at the end of the victory parade route on West 13th Ave. and Cherokee Street.
Thomas told reporters the officer was trying to protect event attendees who came in front of the fire truck.
The officer “had to move a little closer to the vehicle and the fire engine began to roll up the back of his left leg, trapping him under the vehicle,” he said.
Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic celebrates at a rally and parade to mark the team’s first NBA basketball championship on Thursday. (AP)
The officer was removed from under the truck and taken to hospital with a lower leg injury. He is in serious but stable condition and underwent surgery, police said.
The truck was carrying Nuggets players Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, as well as the Larry O’Brien Championship Trophy, FOX 31 reported. They were transferred to another truck to take them the last few blocks of the parade route.
A Denver Health physician said the officer’s injury was limb-threatening. The two victims of the shooting were in serious condition, he said.
Thomas said the downtown area was safe, but “unfortunately there are still too many guns” on the streets, resulting in more shootings.
Denver Mayor Michael Hancock said Thursday’s festivities went according to plan, aside from the shooting, which happened afterward.
Denver Police Sergeant Justin Dodge was seriously injured by a fire truck during the Denver Nuggets NBA Finals victory parade. (Denver Police Department)
“Shame on them for disrupting what would otherwise have been quite a successful event for the entire state of Colorado,” he said of the shooter.
Thursday’s events rallied thousands to celebrate Denver Nuggets’ inaugural NBA championship, in which the franchise defeated the Miami Heat in five games.
The team was led by Jokic, who was named NBA Finals MVP. Violence broke out in Denver after Monday’s championship win, injuring 10 people.
During the press conference, Thomas was questioned about how someone could open fire in a busy area with a heavy police presence.
Nine people were injured Tuesday when shots rang out after the Denver Nuggets won the NBA title against the Miami Heat. (KCNC)
“This just points to the fact that individuals in our community are now being encouraged to act in an irresponsible manner, regardless of who is watching,” he said.
Hancock said more than a million people attended Thursday’s parade and rally.
Global Courant
Denver came to the NBA after the merger with the ABA. The team had only been in one final overall – in 1976 in the ABA. The team lost to the New York Nets in six games.
