Mayhem erupts at Denver Nuggets parade; reports of shooting, cop hit by firetruck

The Denver Nuggets championship parade on Thursday was overshadowed by reports of a gunman wounding multiple victims, as well as an incident involving a police officer being hit by a firetruck.

Two shooting victims were hospitalized and are currently in critical condition, said Denver Police Chief Ron Thomas during a press conference later in the day.

Thomas said the shooting is believed to have been a targeted attack, and was unrelated to the parade celebration.

Meanwhile, the officer whose leg was caught under the firetruck in a separate incident was identified as Sgt. Justin Dodge, who is also said to be in critical condition at the hospital.

During the press conference at Denver Health, officials said Dodge suffered a limb-threatening injury as he attempted to protect people from the oncoming firetruck, which was carrying Denver Nuggets players.

“There were people that had kind of made their way into the street and [Dodge] was trying to protect those individuals from the firetruck … and the firetruck began to roll up the back of his left leg, trapping him underneath the vehicle,” Thomas said, adding that Dodge was currently in surgery.

Thomas was adamant that the separate shooting incident was not an issue of Downtown Denver being dangerous, but a matter of the city’s youth having access to guns.

“We have got to look and understand that our young people are getting their hands on guns,” he said. “They don’t want to solve a crisis by having a conversation. They are shooting at one another. It makes no sense.”

So far, no arrests have been made in connection to the shooting, but one of the suspects was described during the press conference as a Black male.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

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