Denver police made a third arrest in connection to a mass shooting that occurred after the hometown Nuggets won the NBA championship earlier this month.
Kenneth Blakely, 24, is being held for investigation of attempted first-degree murder, according to the Denver Police Department. Two other suspects were previously apprehended for their alleged involvement in a June 13 firefight that left 10 people injured around 12:30 a.m.
The chaos erupted as Nuggets fans celebrated their team’s first professional basketball title a short time earlier. One of the suspects suffered a gunshot wound. Both men allegedly had weapons.
“Preliminary information indicated there was an altercation that led up to the shooting,” cops said in a statement released Friday.
CPR News in Denver said Blakely became involved in a confrontation with one of the other suspects, whose gunfire caused several injuries. Blakely is accused of escalating the situation before firing shots that also hit multiple people.
Police initially suspected the shootout happened over a drug deal. The third arrestee is accused of unlawful possession of a firearm.
None of the victims suffered what appear to be life-threatening wounds.
The Nuggets’ victory parade a day after the shootings was also marred by tragedy. A shooting believed to have been unrelated to the parade left two people hospitalized in critical condition while the city celebrated.
Officials also said a police officer was seriously hurt after being hit by a firetruck carrying Nuggets’ players past waving fans.