Specifically, a train hit and dragged a car that the shooting suspects had used in a failed attempt to escape.
Although three people have been arrested, there are a lot of unanswered questions at this point. Here's what a Commerce City police spokesman has been able to share with us thus far.
At about 11:23 p.m. last night, according to Commerce City Police Officer Christian Rasmussen, CCPD reps heard shots fired on the 8300 block of Rosemary Street.As they were responding to the area, a black Toyota sedan took off and headed eastbound on East 84th Avenue.
Shortly thereafter, the Toytoa's driver tried to drive over railroad tracks near the 8400 block of Highway 2. But Rasmussen notes that "they got high-centered" -- no surprise given the design of the tracks along that stretch. Here's an interactive graphic from near the scene. If you have problems seeing the image, click "View Larger Map."
View Larger Map
With the car stuck, the occupants bailed out, and lucky thing, since a Burlington Northern train happened by and struck the unoccupied Toyota a short time later.
The police report states that "the train dragged the car for a little bit and then launched it," Rasmussen says. "So it probably suffered pretty substantial damage."
As for the people who'd been passengers in the vehicle, they didn't get far. After setting up a perimeter, officers found and busted two adult males and an adult female. Their names haven't been released thus far owing to the preliminary stage of the investigation.
Cops subsequently turned up a 9mm handgun that had been tossed into a ditch near a soccer field in the vicinity of Gala Gardens. However, Rasmussen says the shooters may not have had lethal intent.
"It's possible it was just target practice," he allows. "No victims have come forward so far."
At this writing, photos from the scene have yet to be made public (we'll update this post if they're released), and neither have charges against the trio been announced. But one thing's for certain: Their escape attempt didn't exactly go as planned.
Send your story tips to the author, Michael Roberts.
More from our Follow That Story archive circa November 2011: "Laura Triem, woman hit by light rail, has awoken from her coma."
