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City declines request to release surveillance video of inmate's escape

Denver officials are keeping footage of Mauricio Venzor-Gonzalez's escape to themselves for now.
Escaped inmate Mauricio Venzor-Gonzalez remains at large and is still considered armed and extremely dangerous.

Denver officials are keeping footage of an inmate’s escape to themselves for now.

The Department of Public Safety has denied a 9NEWS request for surveillance video that shows Mauricio Venzor-Gonzalez’s getaway.

Spokesperson Daelene Mix cited an ongoing investigation and said they don’t believe releasing video would help catch the suspect.

Monday, 23-year-old Venzor-Gonzalez ran during a transfer from Denver Health, where he was for a scheduled appointment. He had been in custody for an attempted-murder charge after he allegedly shot at police during a traffic stop in November.

Police searched nearby for hours but Venzor-Gonzalez has not been caught.

RELATED: 'Dangerous' inmate escapes from Denver sheriff’s deputies

Crime Stoppers did release his mug shot following the escape. Mix said the video could be made available once authorities believe it’s no longer a security threat for Denver Health or the Denver Sheriff Department.

Anyone with information about Venzor-Gonzalez is asked to call the Denver Police Department or Metro Denver Crime Stoppers.

Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers at 720-913-STOP (7867) or by using the Metro Denver Crime Stoppers mobile app. All tipsters remain anonymous and are eligible for an award of up to $2,000.

Two men were involved in a shootout with police in connection with Venzor-Gonzalez's escape Monday night - one of them killed.

The medical examiner identified the dead man as 23-year-old Steven Nguyen. He and another unidentified person were in an SUV that sped away from a house believed to be connected to Venzor-Gonzalez.

Police gave chase, but the pursuit ended at 40th and Colorado after the SUV rolled over. That's when law enforcement said the shootout began.

Denver PD won't ID the second suspect except to say he's not Venzor-Gonzalez. He and Nguyen's relationship has not been released.

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