Denver, CO – A woman is being sought by Denver police after allegedly opening fire outside a popular country music bar, injuring five people, following a dispute over her identification. The incident occurred on a bustling Saturday night outside Dierks Bentley’s Whiskey Row, a hotspot in Denver’s downtown nightlife district.
The suspect was reportedly denied entry into the bar by security personnel who suspected she was using someone else’s ID. After leaving the queue of patrons waiting to enter, she allegedly returned with a firearm and began shooting towards the establishment around 11:15 p.m.
The bullets struck five bystanders who were outside the bar at the time, none of whom were believed to be the intended targets. All five victims are expected to recover from their injuries. Witnesses reported hearing six to eight gunshots, causing panic and chaos as people scrambled for safety.
Andrew Reader, a security worker at a nearby bar, described the scene, saying he immediately ushered everyone off the sidewalk and into the safety of his establishment, locking the doors behind them. Once the police deemed the situation safe, patrons were guided towards the back of the bar and exited through the backdoor.
Madison Sharnowski, another witness, recounted the terrifying moments when the gunfire broke out. She expressed gratitude that neither she nor her friends were injured, despite a woman in front of and behind her group being shot. Sharnowski stayed with one of the victims, a young woman shot in the ankle, until an ambulance arrived.
The Denver Police Department released a photo of the suspected shooter on Monday and is offering a $2,000 reward for information leading to her arrest. The suspect remains at large, and the investigation is ongoing.