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Trial begins for former Bronco accused of shooting woman in 2019

Justin Bannan was arrested in 2019 and is accused of shooting a woman in the shoulder.

BOULDER, Colo. — The trial got underway Monday for former Denver Broncos player Justin Bannan, who is charged with attempted murder in connection with a 2019 shooting at a Boulder business.

Bannan, who also played football for the University of Colorado, is accused of shooting a woman during a drug-induced state where he claimed the mafia was after him, an arrest affidavit says.

> The video above is from 2019 when Bannon was initially arrested.

Police initially responded to Black Lab Sports at 3550 Frontier Ave. in Boulder on Oct. 16, 2019, to investigate a reported shooting.

The victim, an acupuncturist who worked in the building, suffered a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to her right shoulder, according to the Boulder Police Department (BPD).

She was at Element 6, a separate business located inside Black Lab Sports, according to the arrest affidavit. She told police she arrived at work, opened her unlocked therapy room door and was immediately shot.

RELATED: Former CU Buffs, Broncos player pleads not guilty by reason of insanity to attempted murder charge

She said she saw Bannan, who she only recognized from brief encounters in the hallway, sitting in the corner of the small room and said, "What the (expletive), you just shot me," to which he replied, "I'm sorry, the Russian Mafia is after me," according to the arrest affidavit.

Responding officers later found a man matching Bannan's description sitting at a table talking to another male on the west side of the building, the affidavit says. He had two bags with him — a duffel bag and a backpack — and two guns were found inside the backpack, according to the affidavit.

RELATED: Former Broncos, CU Buffs player accused of shooting acupuncturist

Bannan was taken into custody without incident and the affidavit says he told police he suffers from hydrocephalus. Hydrocephalus is a condition in which excessive cerebrospinal fluid builds up in the brain, often causing increased pressure.

He's previously pleaded not guilty in the case.

Bannan was a former defensive tackle for the Broncos and also played for the CU Buffs from 1997 to 2001. He is the co-founder of Black Lab Sports, according to his LinkedIn profile.

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