Victor Salazar-Guarache, a 27-year-old man from Colorado, has confessed to the fatal shooting of a colleague and injuring another in the parking lot of their common workplace, Topgolf. The incident occurred in December 2023, with Salazar-Guarache reportedly laughing as he fled the crime scene. On Thursday, he pleaded guilty to charges of second-degree murder and second-degree attempted murder. His plea agreement includes a 48-year prison sentence.
The victims of the shooting were Bryce Holden, a 22-year-old who tragically lost his life, and a manager at Topgolf who sustained injuries. The sequence of events leading to the shooting started when Salazar-Guarache, a dishwasher at the Thornton Topgolf, left work early for reasons that remain unknown.
Police reports state that Salazar-Guarache was absent for about an hour, leaving before his shift ended at 11:42 p.m. Surveillance footage allegedly shows him departing the premises in his car. He returned around 12:50 a.m., coinciding with the end of other employees’ shifts, including those of Holden and the kitchen manager.
According to police, Salazar-Guarache was already parked when Holden and the manager exited the building. He is said to have then left his car, assumed a shooting stance, and opened fire on the two men. Holden was struck multiple times and fell, while the manager managed to escape unscathed by running back into the building. Salazar-Guarache reportedly continued to fire at Holden even after he was down, discharging a total of 12 rounds before fleeing the scene.
A Lyft driver, who was at the Topgolf to pick up a passenger at the time of the shooting, witnessed the incident and reported seeing Salazar-Guarache laughing as he returned to his car. Holden was rushed to a hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries. Salazar-Guarache was apprehended a few hours later on Interstate 25.
Holden’s family is heartbroken by the loss. His father, Rod Holden, described him as a cheerful young man who was teaching himself Spanish with plans to move to Barcelona within two years. Topgolf released a statement expressing their shock and grief over the incident, pledging full cooperation with law enforcement and support for their team during this difficult time.
Salazar-Guarache’s sentencing is scheduled for October 11. He remains in police custody with bail set at $2 million.