A quiet Thornton parking lot turned into a crime scene Sunday night when a 40-year-old man was shot in the leg and rushed to a nearby hospital with serious injuries. Police say the shooter took off before officers arrived, and detectives have launched an active investigation into what happened.
According to a news release posted by the Thornton Police Department, officers were called around 8:20 p.m. to reports of a shooting in the 200 block of East 120th Avenue. They found a 40-year-old man near his vehicle with an apparent gunshot wound to the leg, provided aid until medical crews arrived, and had him transported to a local hospital with serious bodily injuries. Police say the suspect had already fled the scene in a black sedan and is described as a Hispanic male. Anyone with information is asked to call 720-977-5069.
How investigators are proceeding
Detectives say the case is active as they work to determine what led up to the gunfire and identify the person responsible. The department lists non-emergency and tip lines on its contact page, and residents are encouraged to check any surveillance or dashcam footage that could have captured the suspect vehicle in the area. For contact details, see the Thornton Police Department.
Local context
The shooting unfolded along a busy stretch of East 120th Avenue near shopping and dining corridors that have seen police activity in past years. Local reporting has previously documented other violent incidents in Thornton, highlighting ongoing concerns about public safety in some northern Denver suburbs; for background on prior cases, see reporting by Denver7. Authorities say more information will be released as the investigation moves forward.
