BRIGHTON, Colo. — One person was injured in a shooting in Brighton on Wednesday afternoon and local schools previously on secure status or lockdown have been cleared.
Brighton Police Department Chief Matt Domenico said this incident began with a report of a disturbance involving shots fired around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday near S. 9th Avenue and Bush Street. School resource officers were in the area and at the scene within seconds, he said. More units arrived shortly afterward.
27J Schools said the shooting did not happen on any school property. There were many people nearby, since it was lunch time for surrounding schools, according to Brighton police.
When police arrived, they found shell casings in the intersection, but no suspects or victims nearby.
Shortly afterward, police learned that a person with injuries that were not life-threatening transported themselves to a local urgent care, where they were contacted by local law enforcement, Domenico said.
Based on the preliminary investigation, officers learned what the suspect vehicle looked like and found a car that matched the description in the area of Prairie View High School, near E. 120th Avenue and Salem Street. This is about six miles from the shooting scene.
The high school was on lockdown while this unfolded, Domenico said. It has since been cleared by law enforcement, he said.
At the same time, multiple 27J Schools were temporarily put on secure status, which has now been lifted. This affected Prairie View Middle School, Brighton High School, Vikan Middle School, Innovations & Options, South Elementary School, Southeast Elementary School, Bright Beginnings Preschool, Northeast Elementary School, Overland Trail Middle School, Thimmig Elementary School, and Henderson Elementary School.
The secure status for those schools was lifted around 2:45 p.m.
A third suspect was found and taken into custody a little while after the two others were stopped by police, Domenico said.
On Friday, Brighton police provided an update saying six juveniles were taken into custody the day of the shooting. Following questioning, those six were released. Brighton police on Thursday arrested two other juveniles connected to the shooting and were booked into Prairie Vista Youth Services Detention Center, according to a release.
Charges have not been filed in connection to the incident.
Police said they are investigating if students were involved or not. 27J Schools said it received reports that the shooting involved students from Innovations & Options, Prairie View and Brighton High Schools.
No suspects or victims have been identified.
Police are asking residents around 9th Avenue and Bush Street to review any camera footage they may have. Anyone with information is asked to call the department at 202-655-8740. Tipsters can remain anonymous and call Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867.
