WESTMINSTER, Colo. — A gunman accused of opening fire during an argument at a New Year's Eve party in Westminster is now in custody, following a brief barricade.
Trevor Materasso, public information officer with the Westminster Police Department, said the department received several 911 calls around 4:31 a.m. Friday about an active shooter at the IMT Hyland Hills Apartments near W. 93rd Avenue and Yates Street, between the Westminster Center Park and The Greg Mastriona Golf Courses at Hyland Hills.
When Westminster officers arrived at the scene, they found several people fleeing. Based on information gathered from individuals who had been at a party at an apartment, police located a suspected gunman, who was driving a white Oldsmobile, in the parking lot, Materasso said. The suspect attempted to elude police, but became stuck and high-centered on a median.
The suspect then fled on foot and forced himself into an unrelated apartment and attempted to barricade himself with the people inside, Materasso said.
As this was happening, multiple people were outside the apartment building and some were hiding, which "made the scene chaotic for officers and responding paramedics," police said in a press release Friday morning.
Police were able to contact the people who lived in the apartment, and the residents confirmed the suspect had broken in and that they didn't know him.
Police forced themselves into the apartment and wrestled the suspect to the ground. He was taken into custody, Materasso said. The residents of that apartment were not injured.
Police found his gun in the Oldsmobile.
Based on the preliminary investigation, police said there had been a large party at an apartment unit and a fight had broken out. Witnesses reported hearing yelling and then multiple gunshots.
One man was carried outside the apartment to police and was transported to a hospital with life-threatening injuries as he had been shot in both legs.
Another person transported himself or herself to the hospital with a gunshot wound, Materasso said.
Police said it wasn't clear if the suspect had been at the party or knew the people injured in the shooting.
Police said more people may have been injured. They are not searching for any additional suspects.