DENVER – In just 10 seconds, a Denver police officer was shot in the leg, a robbery suspect was fatally wounded and two bystanders were injured by bullets during a confrontation that began when a clerk took a smoke break outside of an East Colfax Avenue 7-Eleven.
That’s according to Denver Police Department Commander Bob Archer, who released more details about Wednesday’s officer-involved shooting in Capitol Hill during a news conference on Monday afternoon.
The suspect, now identified as 29-year-old Carnell Nelson, died at the hospital hours after the shooting.
Wednesday’s shooting and the ensuing investigation prompted police to close several blocks of East Colfax Avenue as well as some surrounding streets as officers worked to piece together how a robbery at a convenience store led to a gunfight.
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“They just began giving the commands when he turned and started shooting,” Archer said.
Just before 8 p.m. that day, Archer said a clerk the 7-Eleven at 551 E. Colfax Ave. was taking a smoke break, and since he was working alone, asked customers to wait outside so he could finish his cigarette.
Nelson ignored this request, according to Archer, and pulled a gun on the clerk when he went inside to confront him.
Archer said the clerk went outside and flagged two Denver police officers who were driving by. That’s when they saw Nelson walking down Colfax toward Pearl Street, clutching a cash register drawer.
“The intent was to order him into custody,” Archer said.
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Instead, Archer said Nelson fired at the officers, hitting Officer Travis Lloyd in the leg. Lloyd fired back, hitting Nelson.
A bullet from one of the officers ricocheted into nearby pizza shop Slice Works' second-story window, according to Archer, shattering it and delivering a graze wound to someone inside. That person was taken to the hospital but quickly released.
Archer said another bystander was injured by a bullet fired by Nelson – a wound that required surgery and a longer hospitalization.
“There were a lot of people there, I understand that,” Archer said.
Lloyd was shot was released from the hospital hours after the shooting.
“It was fortunately not a terrible wound,” Archer said. “He’s got some recovery time ahead of him, but he should recover soon.”
Both of the officers, Lloyd and his partner, Officer Sean Drew,
have been with the department of three years, Archer said. They were on bike patrol at the time but driving a police vehicle when the clerk flagged them down.
Lloyd, who is believed to have opened fire, is on administrative leave, which is standard protocol Drew is not.
The Denver District Attorney’s Office will determine if Lloyd will face charges for the shooting. That decision is expected in two to three months, according to Archer.
The Victims Assistance Unit is also working with the citizens who were shot to help them with the paperwork for possible compensation to help with medical bills.
Nelson had a long history criminal history that includes six robbery arrests, four parole violation arrests and five arrests for flight or escape.
