Denver and Lakewood communities mourn after five killed in shootings
DENVER — Notes of sadness, loss, love, and devastation covered social media Tuesday following the shooting deaths of five people Monday evening. Two others were also hurt including a police officer. The suspect also died in a shootout with police.
The shootings started shortly after 5 p.m. along Broadway near 1st Avenue. Denver Police Chief Paul Pazen said that's where two women were killed and a man was hurt. On Tuesday, Major Crimes Division Commander Matt Clark said the man went to the hospital is expected to survive his injuries.
On Tuesday afternoon, candles and flower bouquets rested in the doorway of Sol Tribe Custom Tattoo and Body Piercing. Coworkers said that Alicia Cardenas, the owner of the shop was one of the victims of the shooting.
My heart breaks for the victims and for the many people who loved them. Our community is truly shattered by this unspeakable act of violence. 💔 https://t.co/MbhntxziHL
— Leslie Herod (@leslieherod) December 28, 2021
A GoFundMe page has been set up for the Gunn and Maldano family.
It reads, "The Denver tattoo & yoga community lost an incredible friend and teacher in a tragic incident last night.
Alyssa Gunn-Maldonado was fatally shot and is survived by her husband Jimmy, who is fighting for his life in the ICU.
This fundraiser is to provide care and funeral costs for Alyssa's family, care and medical expenses for Jimmy's needs and support for their young son, Tenoch."
The GoFundMe has already raised tens of thousands of dollars.
Lakewood Mayor Adam Paul also offered his thoughts Monday night about the shooting.
Many people on social media shared their thoughts and offering their support to those affected by the shooting. That includes local lawmakers, Denver Mayor Michael Hancock and State Representative Leslie Herod (D-Denver).
This is a developing story and will continue to be updated.
A terrible, heartbreaking and senseless act of gun violence stole the lives of several members of our community last night and injured others, including a Lakewood police officer. I’m praying for those lives lost, the victims and their families.
— Michael B. Hancock (@MayorHancock) December 28, 2021
When officers found the car suspected of being involved in the Belmar shopping area, the suspect opened fire and officers shot back. The suspect ran away and allegedly threatened someone in a business with a gun before going into a Hyatt House hotel and shooting a clerk, 28-year-old Sarah Steck. She later died at the hospital, Romero said.
The suspect then encountered a Lakewood police officer and shot her near Alaska Drive and Vance Street. She was able to return fire, killing him.
Romero said the suspect was 47-year-old Lyndon James McLeod. Denver and Lakewood police say all of the people he shot were targeted for personal reasons or in the case of Steck, a personal problem with the hotel. They also said he was known to law enforcement and had two previous investigations involving him, one in 2020 and another in early 2021. No charges, federal or state, were filed in those cases.
Romero called the actions of the Lakewood officer heroic and said she has undergone one surgery and will need more but is doing okay now.
As the investigation continues, the Denver and Lakewood communities are mourning the losses and attacks in shopping areas.
Just two doors down from the Sol Tribe Tattoo on Broadway is Hope Tank, a shop that has been selling gifts and highlighting local nonprofits for almost a decade. Hope Tank posted on social media Tuesday and said it was closed for the day after the shooting.
Sol Tribe Custom Tattoo and Piercing posted on social media on Tuesday saying in part, "We’re hurting badly. We feel your love through our sadness. Please be patient with us as we navigate."
In just a matter of minutes dozens of notes of support filled the comments section of the post.
A short time later Monday night, police said the suspect went into a building that operates as a business and a home near 6th Avenue and Bannock Street and fired shots. No one was hurt there. Clark said then the suspect set fire to van just outside that building.
Clark said then the suspect went into a home in the 1200 block of Williams Street near Cheesman Park and shot and killed a man there.
Later, Denver police chased the vehicle believed to have been involved in the shootings and the person inside the vehicle shot at police and an officer shot back. Clark said the suspect's bullets "disabled" the police car and so the suspect was able to get away and drive to Lakewood. No officers were hurt in that incident.
Just before 6 p.m., the Lakewood Police Department received a report of shots fired at a business in the 1500 block of Kipling Street, said John Romero, a spokesman for that department. He said a victim was later found and pronounced dead at the scene. On Tuesday, he confirmed the identity of the man killed as 38-year-old Danny Schofield.
Lucky 13 Tattoo and Piercing at 1550 Kipling Street in Lakewood shared a post on social media Tuesday saying in part, "Rest easy brother Dano Blair I will always love you" and sharing some pictures including the ones below.