UPDATE | Feb. 20 — Denver police said they believe the shooting suspect who opened fire outside of the Downtown Aquarium in Denver on Wednesday afternoon was aiming for a 19-year-old, who died of his injuries. He was identified as Dacien Salazar.
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DENVER — A man was killed in an apparent drive-by shooting outside the Downtown Aquarium in Denver on Wednesday afternoon, according to the Denver Police Department.
In its initial post Wednesday on X, formerly known as Twitter, the department said the victim was taken into the hospital in critical condition. In an update, DPD said the victim — only identified as a man — succumbed to his injuries.
Police on Thursday said the shots were fired from a moving vehicle and that the shooting did not appear to be random.
Investigators still did not have a suspect description Thursday morning.
ALERT: #DPD is investigating a shooting at 700 Water Street, outside of the Aquarium. One victim located; condition is critical. Investigators are working to develop suspect information. Updates will be posted to this thread when available. #Denver pic.twitter.com/RnN6c9lpSg
— Denver Police Dept. (@DenverPolice) February 14, 2024
A bystander told Denver7 she heard several rounds just outside the aquarium just after 3 p.m.
"As we were walking we just happened to stop and two minutes later, we heard like, five rounds," said Elise Lee, who was taking her daughter to the aquarium for the first time when the shooting occurred. "At first we weren't too concerned... then we started seeing cops rushing this way and that's when we realized something happened at the aquarium."
She told Denver7 that her body started shaking from anxiety and couldn't imagine what it was like inside the aquarium.
"It's the aquarium and you wouldn't think that something like this would happen here," she said.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867.
