Fatal shooting near Colfax and Verbena, suspect at large (25)

Gunfire shattered the silence along East Colfax this morning. In the aftermath, one man is dead, while police look for another. The second person is described as a suspect. We've got the basics from multiple sources. Look below to get details, as well as to see photos and an interactive...

By Michael Roberts

December 2, 2013

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Gunfire shattered the silence along East Colfax this morning.

In the aftermath, one man is dead, while police look for another.

The second person is described as a suspect.

We've got the basics from multiple sources.

Look below to get details, as well as to see photos and an interactive graphic.

Here's the first Denver Police Department tweet about the situation, sent into cyberspace a little after 3 a.m. In the rush, the officer misspelled the name of Verbena Street.

Breaking: DPD on scene of a Shooting at E Colfax and Verbeana St. male victim transported to hospital critical cond.
— Denver Police Dept (@DenverPolice) December 2, 2013

A short time later, the DPD followed up with the sad news that the victim of the shooting had been pronounced dead at an area hospital.

Added notes: The shooting is under investigation as a homicide, with the suspect identified as an African-American male wearing a white shirt and tan shorts. According to 7News, he fled the scene on foot.

Here's a photo from the scene courtesy of CBS4....

RT @lanelyon Colfax and Verbena: police say shooting victim was pronounced dead at Univ. Hosp. Suspect at large. pic.twitter.com/u3zoaWaXzY
— CBSDenver (@CBSDenver) December 2, 2013

...and another from 9News:

Denver PD looking for clues into who shot, killed a man on E. Colfax and Verbena St. http://t.co/Ns3I8rMcev pic.twitter.com/LCuznXlUpr
— 9NEWS Denver (@9NEWS) December 2, 2013

Shortly before 7 a.m., another related DPD tweet noted that traffic along this stretch of East Colfax was being diverted as a result of the investigation, with impacts expected to last for several hours.

Neither the victim nor the suspect has been identified at this writing.

Look below to see an interactive graphic of the area near the intersection in question. If you have problems seeing the image, click "View Larger Map."

View Larger Map

Send your story tips to the author, Michael Roberts.

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Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

Contact: Michael Roberts

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