A usually quiet stretch of North Irving Street suddenly turned tense on Friday when, according to police, a juvenile male accidentally shot an acquaintance in the leg while handling a gun.
The incident unfolded on the 1400 block of North Irving Street in Denver. Officers responding to reports of a shooting found the wounded person at the scene and took them to a local hospital for treatment. Police say the youth was arrested on investigation of second-degree assault and juvenile in possession of a handgun.
According to the Denver Police Department, officers detained the juvenile at the scene. Detectives are still working the case and continuing to develop information about what led up to the gunfire.
UPDATE: A juvenile male has been arrested for investigation of 2nd Degree Assault and Juvenile in Possession of a Handgun. It appears he may have accidentally shot an acquaintance in the leg while handling the firearm. https://x.com/i/status/2045255595612315765
— Denver Police Dept. (@DenverPolice) April 17, 2026
What police say
In a post on X, the Denver Police Department stated, "UPDATE: A juvenile male has been arrested for investigation of 2nd Degree Assault and Juvenile in Possession of a Handgun. It appears he may have accidentally shot an acquaintance in the leg while handling the firearm." The department added that officers located and transported one victim to a local hospital and that detectives are working to gather additional details.
Charges and Colorado law
Colorado law generally bars people under 18 from possessing handguns, with certain exceptions for supervised activities. Under C.R.S. 18-12-108.5, illegal possession of a handgun by a juvenile can result in criminal penalties, and repeat violations may be elevated to felony charges.
Second-degree assault explained
Second-degree assault in Colorado covers knowingly or recklessly causing bodily injury and can apply when a weapon is involved. The statute C.R.S. 18-3-203 outlines the offense and the range of penalties that prosecutors may seek if the case proceeds.
What happens next
Under Colorado's juvenile code, a young person taken into custody is entitled to a detention hearing within 48 hours, excluding weekends and holidays. The prosecution also has to move quickly if it intends to file formal charges, according to C.R.S. 19-2.5-305.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the Denver Police Department non-emergency line at 720-913-2000, as listed on the city's police page, or share tips with Metro Denver Crime Stoppers.
