At least 10 people were injured in a shooting in downtown Denver on Monday night, hours after the Nuggets won their first NBA championship.
The shooting occurred near 16th Street Mall and Blake Street, a popular area for tourists and locals alike.
According to police, shots were fired during an altercation involving several people. Three people were in critical condition and the rest were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.
A suspect was taken into custody by the police who had also been shot. Police have not yet made any statement if the shooting is connected to celebrations or not.
The Nuggets won their first NBA title in 47 years by defeating the Miami Heat 94-89 in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.
Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets’ star center, was named the NBA Finals MVP after averaging 28.1 points, 15.7 rebounds, and 8.4 assists per game.The shooting cast a pall over what should have been a joyous occasion for the city of Denver.
Nuggets head coach Michael Malone said that the team was “heartbroken” by the news of the shooting.”Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families,” Malone said.
“We hope for a speedy recovery for those who were injured.”The shooting is the latest in a string of mass shootings in the United States.
According to the Gun Violence Archive, there have been over 250 mass shootings in the United States so far this year.The Denver shooting is a reminder of the dangers of gun violence and the need for stricter gun control laws.