3 injured in Denver nightclub shooting

DENVER - Broken bottles, remnants of Halloween and crime scene tape now litter the parking lot around a Denver nightclub as detectives try to figure out how three people were shot in the area early Sunday morning.

Gunfire erupted at Posh Ultra Nightclub and Lounge on 4040 East Evans Avenue around the time clocks returned to standard time Sunday morning. About 30 minutes later shots were fired at a nearby McDonald's.

The three victims, all men in their early 20s, are being treated for gunshot wounds, two at Denver Health Medical Center and the other at Rose Medical Center.

Police arrested two black men in their early 20s shortly after the shooting but they say it is not clear if they are responsible for the gunfire.

"Halloween Night has brought out some chaos and some major problems at Posh Ultra Nightclub," owner Stephen Lyons said.

Lyons says his Halloween party was going well until the club filled up and bouncers stopped letting more people inside. That's when the parking lot got crowded.

"We were trying to enjoy the night. People took it to a different level and hopefully those people will be found and people will be reprimanded for their actions," Lyons said shortly after the shooting. "Hopefully everybody that was involved, God is on their side and they'll make it through everything."

Witnesses say what started as a fight soon erupted into gunfire.

"I've heard a lot of gunshots, a lot of people were running out of the club. When I came out and I found out what happened, you know, I mean, I was just like man you know we can't do nothing in this city," Cornelius Martinez, a local musician from Aurora, said.

When officers arrived, they found two victims shot in the parking lot of the club. Both of those victims were taken to Denver Health. One is listed in critical condition the other in serious. Officials have not released the names of either man as they are still investigating the shooting.

About 30 minutes later, responding Denver police officers heard more gunfire at a nearby local McDonald's. When they spotted a vehicle speeding away, a 20-block chase ensued but they were able to arrest the two people inside. Officers are not sure if they are connected to the club shooting.

Sonny Jackson with the Denver Police Department says police believe one other man ran from the vehicle. They are actively searching additional suspects in the shootings.

"We had two groups of people who got into a confrontation . . . We're not sure what the confrontation was over, why they shot at each other. We do know that there was an exchange of gun fire between the two groups and at this time three people were shot," Jackson added.

"Anything people may have especially if they were here, they witnessed it - could be cars, description of people they may know what led up to the event, even if they heard something, we would want to know that information to help the detectives piece that information together," Lieutenant Matt Murray of the Denver Police Department said.

Detectives say the third victim later walked into the emergency room at Rose Medical Center. He is being treated for non-life threatening injuries. His name has not been released.

The Denver Police Department is still trying to figure out who fired the shots and say more arrests could come. Detectives are planning a photo lineup to see if the victims recognize those two suspects in custody.

Anyone with information about the shootings is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP. You could be eligible for a cash reward.