Denver police release details about double deadly shooting investigation

DENVER (KDVR) -- Investigators have released details about what led up to a double deadly shooting that resulted in an officer firing shots in Denver last weekend.

The shooting happened at a 7-Eleven located near 35th Avenue and Colorado Boulevard around midnight last Sunday. The Denver Police Department said two people were shot and killed in the incident, and two people were arrested.

Police discussed what has been discovered so far in the investigation during a press conference Tuesday morning. According to police, there was a verbal altercation between two groups before one person pulled out a ghost gun and fired shots.

What led up to the shooting

Police believe that two groups who did not previously know each other were involved in a verbal altercation in the gas station parking lot leading up to the shooting. Police said at one point, there was talk of a vape device that was exchanged and was not going to be returned.

During the altercation, police said two people began assaulting a third person on the ground. Another man, who police said was associated with the victim on the ground, pulled out a handgun and fired multiple rounds, hitting and killing the two people involved in the assault.

The subject then returned to a vehicle near the gas pumps, and that's when an officer arrived on the scene and tried to intervene. Police said the officer's body-worn camera video, as well as surveillance video from the gas station, both showed the offender firing multiple rounds at the officer and the officer returning shots.

Investigators determined that the officer, who has been with the department since 2023 and has never been involved in a shooting, fired 14 rounds. Evidence showed that the offender fired 15 shots at the scene, but they don't know how many were fired at the officer or others involved.

Evidence near the scene

The shooter was not hit by the officer's shots and fled the scene before police could catch him. Police set up a perimeter and searched the area.

They ended up finding a gun in the alleyway between Colorado Boulevard and Harrison Street, which was where the suspect ran from police. According to police, the gun was a black, 9mm semi-automatic handgun that was a "privately manufactured firearm," commonly known as a ghost gun. There were 12 rounds inside an extended magazine that could hold 30 rounds.

The shooter, identified as 19-year-old Fabian Vasquez, was found hiding in a shed in someone's backyard. Police said a K-9 was deployed and the shooter was bit. He was arrested and taken to a hospital for evaluation for the dog bite as well as prolonged exposure to the cold.

Charges filed, self-defense claims being investigated

The Denver District Attorney's Office has formally filed the following charges against Vasquez:

• Attempted first-degree murder after deliberation
• First-degree assault of a police officer
• Possession of a weapon by a previous offender
• Prohibited use of a high-capacity magazine

Dominic Gallegos, 18, was also arrested and is charged with:

• Possession of a weapon by a previous offender

Police said the District Attorney's office is still evaluating charges and seeing if self-defense claims apply in this scenario or if homicide charges apply.

The officer involved is set to be placed on a non-line assignment and go through a re-integration process before they transition back into a patrol assignment, a process which could take 12-16 weeks.

Investigations into the deadly shooting and the officer's actions are still underway.