A deadly shooting near the Montbello Recreation Center turned a stretch of the 15000 block of East 53rd Avenue into a crime scene Thursday night, after a juvenile male was found with gunshot wounds and pronounced dead at the scene, Denver police said.
Officers were initially dispatched on a report of a person with unknown injuries, and later confirmed the victim had been fatally shot, according to 9News. Detectives are working to piece together what happened in the moments leading up to the gunfire, and authorities have not yet released any suspect information.
Police Ask For Tips
Denver Police are asking anyone who might have seen or heard something to contact Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867. Tips can be submitted anonymously by phone or online, according to Metro Denver Crime Stoppers.
Montbello Neighborhood Context
Montbello, in far northeast Denver, is one of the city’s most populous neighborhoods, according to Wikipedia. The area has been the focus of long-running youth violence prevention efforts, and community researchers have studied local risk factors for years. The University of Colorado’s “Steps to Success” community assessment identified elevated youth violence risk in Montbello and helped shape targeted prevention work in the neighborhood, per the University of Colorado.
Investigation Ongoing
Denver Police’s Crimes Against Persons unit is leading the investigation and has not released any suspect details as of the latest update, authorities told 9News. Detectives say the case remains active and that more information will be shared as it becomes available.
